Author Topic: Unbelievable disaster (Read 4701 times)

Kirk-o · « **on:** June 17, 2006, 09:00:49 pm »

Went to check my bees and the hive that sits in the sun the bees were all dead and the honey and dead bees wre running out the entrance.My other hives sit under the Gum trees in the shade or dappled light.I have had a hive at this spot for 3 years no trouble.I don't know if they died
and the the hive melted down or vise versa.Its prettty hot here in L A
bummer
kirko

anyone else had this happen in the heat?

Michael Bush · « **Reply #1 on:** June 17, 2006, 10:17:44 pm »

I doubt the heat killed them. I've had hives in full sun in the summer and one year it was in the 110 111 F range. Dee Lusby's hives are all in full sun in the desert in Tuscon. But, of course, once the bees are dead and not regulating the temps, the wax will melt.

mick · « **Reply #2 on:** June 17, 2006, 11:41:36 pm »

I have a bit of a theory on melting hives. As you know new foundation melts really easily.

I reckon when bees first build comb from new foundation it is weak and likely to melt in a hive if it gets over 40 degrees. No amount of air cooling by the bees is gunna reduce the temperature if the outside air temp is above 40 or 100+ in the old money.

However when the new comb gets some dirt in it over time, the structure is stabilised and hardened and I think there must be some evaporation as well. I think over time as the comb is reused by the bees it becomes very stable to heat. It cures I spose.

What do you guys think? BTW speaking of guys are there any female beekeepers on here? Just curious not desperate :)

Hi-Tech · « **Reply #3 on:** June 18, 2006, 01:50:03 am »

Does this sound like a pestiside kill?

Brian D. Bray · « **Reply #4 on:** June 18, 2006, 01:39:00 pm »

Could be from aerial spraying, the trees could have protected the other hives while the one in the sun took the full brunt. I wonder if they were located near fruit or vegetible crops?

Kathyp · « **Reply #5 on:** June 18, 2006, 01:45:16 pm »

Quote from: mick

What do you guys think? BTW speaking of guys are there any female beekeepers on here? Just curious not desperate :)

i don't know if i can rightly be called a bee keeper yet. so far, i think i am just lucky not to have killed my first bees. there is at least one other female. she is from my area.

TwT · « **Reply #6 on:** June 18, 2006, 01:50:59 pm »

there are a few lady beekeepers on here..... its hard to say what killed the hive without seeing it or seeing what the hive was like before you left on vacation, if the hive was strong before you left and the bottom board was full of dead bee's when you got back, I would guest they were poisoned especially if your near farm land were they might use crop dusters or some kind of spray....

amymcg · « **Reply #7 on:** June 18, 2006, 03:10:15 pm »

I'm of the female persuasion.

Joe · « **Reply #8 on:** June 19, 2006, 10:55:36 am »

I'm easily persuaded by females... Does that count? :D

photokid · « **Reply #9 on:** June 19, 2006, 02:32:30 pm »

Female. and married

Finsky · « **Reply #10 on:** June 19, 2006, 02:46:43 pm »

........What is the difference when man and woman stand in front of altar?

- man hopes that he is her first.
- woman hopes that he is her last.

Brian D. Bray · « **Reply #11 on:** June 19, 2006, 09:50:42 pm »

Amen to that, Finsky.

mick · « **Reply #12 on:** June 20, 2006, 04:39:08 am »

Geeze they are coming out of the woodwork, great to see! :)

randydrivesabus · « **Reply #13 on:** June 20, 2006, 07:21:55 am »

Quote from: mick

Geeze they are coming out of the woodwork, great to see! :)

your bees?

Valarie · « **Reply #14 on:** June 21, 2006, 04:06:07 am »

After months of convincing my husband that I was not just trying to collect on his life insurance policy, I got my first bees in April. :lol:

mick · « **Reply #15 on:** June 21, 2006, 04:42:04 am »

randydrivesabus :roll: :lol:

great stuff Valarie!

rache · « **Reply #16 on:** June 21, 2006, 09:17:29 am »

my husband doesn't have a life insurance policy, so there was no problem there. still had to convince him, though. "but see, aren't you glad that i don't want to keep, like, cows?" i asked, trying to soften the blow. "no, actually i would've preferred that," he said, "because then there would've been no question, and i wouldn't have thousands of animals living in my yard."