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Author Topic: All my bees disappeared  (Read 3518 times)

Offline pollenchucker

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All my bees disappeared
« on: October 19, 2009, 11:42:54 pm »
They cleaned out the whole hive too.  Clean as a whistle sometime in the last 2 weeks.  Only a handful of bees lingering that can barely move unless nudged.  Then they just crawl a few steps and stop and rest some more.  I'm guessing they must have starved and left, though I did not see them do so.  They will still feeding on fall buckwheat 2 weeks ago.
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Offline David LaFerney

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Re: All my bees disappeared
« Reply #1 on: October 19, 2009, 11:49:40 pm »
Quote from: pollenchucker on October 19, 2009, 11:42:54 pm
They cleaned out the whole hive too.  Clean as a whistle sometime in the last 2 weeks.  Only a handful of bees lingering that can barely move unless nudged.  Then they just crawl a few steps and stop and rest some more.  I'm guessing they must have starved and left, though I did not see them do so.  They will still feeding on fall buckwheat 2 weeks ago.

Too bad. They might have been robbed out.  'Tis the season. 
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Offline Sean Kelly

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Re: All my bees disappeared
« Reply #2 on: October 20, 2009, 09:50:54 am »
Any dead bees stuck in cells with their butts sticking out?  Thats a sure sign of starvation.  Happened to me last year.  Really sucks.  Sorry to hear about it.  I'm afraid my bees wont make it this winter.  They're not taking sugar and honey supplys are low.  A swarm I caught early spring never built up all spring and summer long.  They definatly wont make it.  Starting to wonder if I should just quit. 

Sean Kelly
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Offline pollenchucker

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Re: All my bees disappeared
« Reply #3 on: October 21, 2009, 12:39:02 pm »
Actually the hive was totally clean but for a few live listless hangers on.  But all the cells were totally clean.
Yeah there is always next year.
Thanks
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Offline annette

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Re: All my bees disappeared
« Reply #4 on: October 22, 2009, 12:38:42 am »
Quote from: Sean Kelly on October 20, 2009, 09:50:54 am
Any dead bees stuck in cells with their butts sticking out?  Thats a sure sign of starvation.  Happened to me last year.  Really sucks.  Sorry to hear about it.  I'm afraid my bees wont make it this winter.  They're not taking sugar and honey supplys are low.  a swarm I caught early spring never built up all spring and summer long.  They definatly wont make it.  Starting to wonder if I should just quit. 

Sean Kelly

Don't feel discouraged Sean, we all have those times and feel like this.  I have wondered myself if my 4 hives do not make it through the winter this year, how I would feel about continuing.  But then there are always more swarms to catch.

How long have you been beekeeping??
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Offline poka-bee

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Re: All my bees disappeared
« Reply #5 on: October 22, 2009, 01:01:14 am »
Sean don't get discouraged!  Mine didn't make it this year either. One lost the queen sometime early spring before the drones were out & the other surprised me with swarming (60' up in a pine tree....) then something happened & the new queen either died or didn't make it back from mating flight.  I have been preoccupied with life problems (that's a whole nuther post...) & didn't keep up with things.  Next spring if I'm still here will get some packages through the bee club.
Chin up, chin up, everyone loves a happy face...! :-D
Jody
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Offline weBEE Jammin

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Re: All my bees disappeared
« Reply #6 on: October 22, 2009, 01:39:42 pm »
It's not the end of the world. As the Queen Bee told me once, "Bees do what they do, when they want to do it!". There is a reason, and bees need every one of us beekers and more to help them make it thru these times. We would not exist if it was not for these ladies!!!
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Offline Sean Kelly

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Re: All my bees disappeared
« Reply #7 on: October 22, 2009, 06:25:00 pm »
Quote from: annette on October 22, 2009, 12:38:42 am
But then there are always more swarms to catch.
How long have you been beekeeping??
Yes, I can't keep up with swarm calls.  I love catching swarms.  I've been keeping bees for 3 years now.

Quote from: poka-bee on October 22, 2009, 01:01:14 am
Next spring if I'm still here will get some packages through the bee club.
If you're still here?!?!?!  What does that mean, you're not moving are you?!?!?!  You can't move!  Who will I go to the Bee club with?  Ahh man...

Don't worry folks.  I'm not giving up.  I'm just having a diffficult time coping with my bees being lazy compared to years past.  It almost seemed like all my bees just didn't care any more and didn't collect nectar like they should have.  I did everything I should have besides requeening which I now regret.

Jody, by the way, I plan on going to the Nov 2nd Pierce Co. Beeks meeting.  Dr. Steve Sheppard from WSU will be there.  You should come along.

Sean Kelly
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Offline poka-bee

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Re: All my bees disappeared
« Reply #8 on: October 22, 2009, 09:38:37 pm »
I plan on going, and they will have CAKE!  YUM! I was really bummed when mine swarmed, a HUGE beautiful bunch of bees more than inna package WAY up in that pine tree.  I thought swarms hung around closer to the ground like JP gets but nope nope nope, not mine! :-x I was marching round the yard using some pretty colorful language trying to figure how to climb 60' straight up a pine tree on a steep slope! I shoulda bought a queen too, didn't have the $$.  That's life I guess!
Jody
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Offline hardwood

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Re: All my bees disappeared
« Reply #9 on: October 22, 2009, 09:58:47 pm »
Jody, that would've been the perfect time to try that "Tanging" thing. Wonder if it would've worked?

Scott
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Offline pollenchucker

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Re: All my bees disappeared
« Reply #10 on: October 23, 2009, 08:52:36 pm »
I ordered a new colony for early spring 2010, last week.
I'm just wondering if they will get situated and comfortable in time for May 1, when the tulip poplar explosion begins.
Or will I have to wait another year.  I have 2 deep supers and 1 mid super formed out with comb. 2 shallows on hold.
And of course I am only talking about 1 hive here, I won't be splitting it or trying to do anything fancy.
-PC
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