4 hives down

[StephenSDH]

I lost a nuc a week ago bees crawling everywhere on the ground, the whole hive died.  Today I was outside an my three big hives all have bees crawing out and thousands of dead.  It has been very humid here since March.  Things have never really dried out.  The hives smell a little like rot, but I believe that is mainly because of thousands of bees outside the hive.  It is adult bees that are dieing so I don't think it is foul brood.  Maybe pestisides?  There is no mold or algee or anything funky in the hives.  I think it might be too late, but I hope not. First year raising bees and I don't want it to end like this.

Can anyone point me toward what I should check/do??

Steve

http://img269.imageshack.us/gal.php?g=img3174g.jpg

[Michael Bush]

Are they starving?  Is the hive light?  Are there stores?  Is there a flow?

[StephenSDH]

I think your right. I just tipped the three hives and they are light.  I will put out sugar water tonight.  Is there anything else I should do?

A local bee keeper told me there isn't much between the tulip poplars and fall.  I didn't realize they could run out of food though. 

Thanks, Steve

[StephenSDH]

The bees look happy and healthy now.  I hope no one here reports me for neglect.  Two of the three bottom boards had an inch of dead bees.  I used a leaf blower to clean up the area.  I checked on them over a month ago and they had honey, I didn't want to disturb them since they have been doing so well.  There are still lots of bees so it looks like the population is still okay.  I am going to look tomorrow and makes sure there are still queens.

Steve

[kathyp]

it happens.  a couple of springs ago, some of us in the PNW almost lost hives the same way. bad weather, etc....  i caught mine just in time.  it's a good, if sometimes painful reminder, that if we keep them, we have to care for them.....and still sometimes we fail.