[NJBeeVet]

Hi everyone, I have a small home apiary of 5 colonies in a quarter acre suburban lot. Today I've noticed something I've not seen before. There were a large amount ( maybe 1000?) Bees walking about on the ground disoriented, with the main concentration around my strongest hive. I don't really see dead bees, for the most part they're alive walking around flightless.i assumed possible pesticides, but on closer inspection I see large amount of orange bee feces on the ground close to the affected hive. Ive heard of poison causing neurologic symptoms, but not diarrhea. My other thoughts were eating fermented sugar sources. Has anyone seen this before?

 

[jonsl]

Are the bees dark and greasy looking?

 

[NJBeeVet]

Nope, normal looking. And very acute, I check on them frequently. I do tend to notice grounded bees late in the season every year, but never this many and the large feces piles near the hive were unusual.