Of the three hives at my house, I have already lost one. From this I have a question.
It is 50-55 degrees here today and the stronger two hives are buzzing about. I checked the one that has been silent to find all of the bees inside long dead.
This hive was the weakest one, a combined weak hive with a late Summer swarm.
I had medicated all three hives, wrapped them in roof paper and placed a feeder on top. This hive had some of the best drawn comb and a good amount of honey, partially moved over from the neighboring hives to give the weak one a boost.
Virtually everything remains intact as the day I wrapped them up. Dead bees (including drones) litter the bottom board, the scattered brood lie either partially emerged or only partially intact, still in cells.
The only “grouping†of dead bees are a couple of clumps in the center of the upper deep, near the queen, many head-in to the combs. There is plenty of honey a frame away to either side and a feeder directly above.
I assume that there were not enough bees in this weak hive to keep them warm enough to even get to the feeder, medicine or honey.
My question is two fold.
1) What should I do with this hive full of GREAT comb and a good deal of honey (as well as dead bees and brood)?
2) Is there anything else that I should investigate before I do it?
Being as this is only my second year in, I am very nervous about scavenging this hive for the other bees and transferring a parasite or disease to my otherwise healthy hives.
Any comments or suggestions would be appreciated (as always).
Thanks and, of course, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
:shock: