Bees in Grass

[CherGarr]

Hi guys! My bees are in and I get the silliest thrill sitting out there just watching them coming and going. I got really excited yesterday when I saw that they had started to bring in pollen. I noticed four bees in the grass behind the hive. They were alive (just barely). Everything else seemed normal, but they haven't been in there a week yet so I haven't opened it. Is this normal? Could they have been kicked out? Why do you suppose they were there? I picked two of them up but they just flew back down to the grass? Kinda strange. I thought maybe one of you may have some insight. Thanks!

[Michael Bush]

They die fairly constantly. They are probably old and worn out. If you see a lot of them I'd worry.

[Branman]

MB, correct me if I'm wrong, but

if they've lost most of their hair then they're probably old and ready to die, but if they're full of soft hair then maybe k-wing from t-mites? I had a problem with that early this spring with alot of bees milling around in the grass unable to fly. If this is the case, I'd check the shape of their wings to see if its tell tale k-wing then blast em with some FGMO

[Michael Bush]

Probably a good idea to look closely. Newly emerged bees are fuzzy and smaller. Old bees are shinier and larger. Sometimes the old bees have frazzled wings too, so don't confuse that with the K wing etc.

I figure four of them isn't a trend so I wouldn't get too worried.