Month of Death

[luka]

in which month during the winter do most hives dies?

[westernbeekeeper]

I'd say between Jan. and Feb.

[psfred]

I suspect late winter -- in this area, late Feb into mid March. They usually start brooding up then, and are at great danger of starving if it gets warm for a week or two and then cold and rainy.

We lose most of our hives then, as a general rule, although sometimes a few don't get that far.

Peter

[Andrew Dewey]

Around here April is the cruel month.

[tefer2]

Late March here.

[BOYZNUS]

Good mourning. I came on here today to ask a question about my dead hive,,, and here is the answer I was seeking. It has been in the teens to low twentys at night for about a month. The days have been mixed with cold clear day to cold wet days. I checked the hive this morning,, and have about 25 bees alive and flying around. I run 2 deeps and 1 medium. The medium is completly loaded with capped honey. The middle deep has capped honey in the 3 outside frames on each side, and empty brood cells throughout the rest of the frames. The lower deep is all empty brood cells. I found 2 empty queen cells and about 12 empty drone cells. The bees that are still on the frames look completly normal,,grouped together,,, except they are dead. (about 100 total throught the hive). So, I guess this is a normal occurance? Could I have done something to save them from dying and/or swarming? Should I re-invest money for another nuc? Thanx for your time. Have a great day.

[FlowerPlanter]

except they are dead. (about 100 total throught the hive).

100 dead bees in the hive, that's it? Is the queen there too?

Your cluster is too small to stay warm. And that few of bees would not be able to defend to hive.

Did you treat for mites? Did you monitor your mites?

The 25 fling around are most likely robber bees come to get the honey they will be back in full force as it get warmer. Close up the hive to protect the honey. With that much honey a new package will get a good start.

[wadehump]

late feb to march warms up flowers bloom bees start raising brood cold snap hits bees will not leave brood starve

[Splatt]

I'm told here in Utah it's February.

[Adam Foster Collins]

March here.

[TheBuzz]

CT here and DONT kill your dandelions if you had been. One of the 1st things to bloom and a good pollen source. Being on the coastal area the winter is almost over for us in another 6 weeks.

[beepro]

I would say Nov., Dec., and Jan. are the worst months here. The queen bee shuts down and not enough bees going into winter is hard. Trying to keep up with the warm and wet weather pattern really had an impact on the bees. We'll see how Feb. is going for them.

[Ravenseye]

I lose most of mine in the very late winter and early spring. Just about when you see them flying here and there and think "phew....they made it", they don't.