Hive autopsy
Posted: January 15th, 2019, 8:55 pm
Lost one of theee hives this winter and I’m trying to figure out why. I believe that the poor bees starved to death. I didn’t take any honey this season as they started from nice in late May but this hives population had dramatically crashed in the fall and the cluster was so small I don’t think they could move to another frame once they had eaten all the home on their frame.
I’m trying to figure out if the small cluster is the result of a queenless colony or disease. I noticed in late sept/early October that there was no brood present in the hive and instead the bread comb was filled with a clearing liquid. (Could have been honey... could have been...??).
Anyway at that point it was too late to find another queen and I watched as the colony dwindled and finally died last week. I’m attaching a photo of the brood comb. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
I’m trying to figure out if the small cluster is the result of a queenless colony or disease. I noticed in late sept/early October that there was no brood present in the hive and instead the bread comb was filled with a clearing liquid. (Could have been honey... could have been...??).
Anyway at that point it was too late to find another queen and I watched as the colony dwindled and finally died last week. I’m attaching a photo of the brood comb. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.