Earlier this year In February, I looked at the Rabun County hive. There were lots of dead bees on the bottom, but I didn't open the hive. There were a few bees flying in and out, but only a few.
On Monday I went to Rabun County to install a second hive. Because I had a bad feeling about the hive in February, I took two packages to install there in case the hive had died.
I am so sad to report that the hive had starved to death with a full super of honey just above the cluster. I have never seen dead bees so clearly defining the cluster. It covered four frames and part of the fifth. The cluster was round in about the diameter of a baseball and elliptical in length. I never have had such a clear picture of what a cluster looked like in my head, so seeing it this way was helpful for learning what they look like, but what a sad way to learn.
I am so disappointed that they didn't make it. I had high hopes for them going into winter. I had fed them bee tea and was pretty sure there were no other illnesses in the hive.
What a loss and what a shame!
On Monday I went to Rabun County to install a second hive. Because I had a bad feeling about the hive in February, I took two packages to install there in case the hive had died.
I am so sad to report that the hive had starved to death with a full super of honey just above the cluster. I have never seen dead bees so clearly defining the cluster. It covered four frames and part of the fifth. The cluster was round in about the diameter of a baseball and elliptical in length. I never have had such a clear picture of what a cluster looked like in my head, so seeing it this way was helpful for learning what they look like, but what a sad way to learn.
I am so disappointed that they didn't make it. I had high hopes for them going into winter. I had fed them bee tea and was pretty sure there were no other illnesses in the hive.
What a loss and what a shame!
Sorry to hear about your bees Linda.
ReplyDelete