The Honey Factory

[Apis mellifera]

It is sunny and calm out. I opened the Saskatraz hive and confirmed that the bees are all dead. I did find something that did not belong in the hive. I have never seen a wasp like this before.

The body shape looks more like a bumblebee. Just the exoskeleton without the hair. Bumbles get desperate in the fall and try to rob hives and end up like your photo. But more importantly did you find any clues as to why the hive failed?

 

[R2elk]

The body shape looks more like a bumblebee. Just the exoskeleton without the hair. Bumbles get desperate in the fall and try to rob hives and end up like your photo. But more importantly did you find any clues as to why the hive failed?

I did not have a hive tool with me and did nothing more than confirm that the hive had died.

 

[Apis mellifera]

I did not have a hive tool with me and did nothing more than confirm that the hive had died.

I see, well if you do get a chance to check it out a few things to look for are:

1. How much honey/pollen did they have left.
2. How many dead bees on the bottom board and combs, if there's at least 1/2 a cup do a mite wash/count.
3. Spotty brood pattern with capped brood and dead bees emerging from cells.
4. White crystals (mite feces) on cells walls located near the dead brood.
5. Is there any empty or half built supercedure cells. Usually, but not always located mid frame as the workers attempt to raise a new queen to replace a failing one.

 

[duluthralphie]

I see, well if you do get a chance to check it out a few things to look for are:

1. How much honey/pollen did they have left.
2. How many dead bees on the bottom board and combs, if there's at least 1/2 a cup do a mite wash/count.
3. Spotty brood pattern with capped brood and dead bees emerging from cells.
4. White crystals (mite feces) on cells walls located near the dead brood.
5. Is there any empty or half built supercedure cells. Usually, but not always located mid frame as the workers attempt to raise a new queen to replace a failing one.

I would be slightly amazed (read knock me over with a feather) if he had supercedure cells this time of year...

 

[Apis mellifera]

Forgot to add, that's definitely a bumblebee. She has pollen baskets.

 

[R2elk]

Forgot to add, that's definitely a bumblebee. She has pollen baskets.

It is definitely wasp waisted. It is solid black. There are zero hairs.

 

[R2elk]

I see, well if you do get a chance to check it out a few things to look for are:

1. How much honey/pollen did they have left.
2. How many dead bees on the bottom board and combs, if there's at least 1/2 a cup do a mite wash/count.
3. Spotty brood pattern with capped brood and dead bees emerging from cells.
4. White crystals (mite feces) on cells walls located near the dead brood.
5. Is there any empty or half built supercedure cells. Usually, but not always located mid frame as the workers attempt to raise a new queen to replace a failing one.

There are no dead bees on the bottom board. There are definitely no mites. All the dead bees are up in the frames.

 

[Apis mellifera]

I would be slightly amazed (read knock me over with a feather) if he had supercedure cells this time of year...

Yes, your correct. But what happens sometimes in the fall they may unsuccessfully try to replace a failing queen (queen event) and you will see the remnants of queen cells. That's why some beekeepers are surprised to see an unmarked queen in the spring thinking the paint wore off. In the fall you sometimes have mother and daughter queens in the hive but most beeks don't notice and just close up the hive when they see a queen.

 

[Apis mellifera]

It is definitely wasp waisted. It is solid black. There are zero hairs.

As the bumblebee decays you are just left with the exoskeleton. Look closely at the rear legs, she has pollen baskets. Wasps do not.

 

[itsasmallfarm]

ordered two hives, getting them in mid may.