2 weeks ago, 2 of my hives were pretty strong. Both single deeps, with 9 frames pretty full. I decided to add supers about a week or so ago. I added the supers, with new foundation, to the bottom of the brood box. At the time, i didn't open up the hives and check everything out. However I did see a lot of beetles and tons of beetle larvae. The frames didn't appear "slimed", I assumed the bees were removing them from the comb and dropping them down to the bottom board.
Yesterday I opened the hives and they seemed really week. Almost no honey, no eggs, very little brood. A little capped brood scattered throughout, and maybe 5% of the total comb had open brood. Very disappointing. Tons of beetles but no beetle larvae. I did find the queen in one of the hives (stronger of the 2).
What are my options? Combine the 2 hives? Move to a sunnier spot?
My other hive, started from a very weak nuc is doing great. But it's on my balcony, in a much sunnier spot.
Yesterday I opened the hives and they seemed really week. Almost no honey, no eggs, very little brood. A little capped brood scattered throughout, and maybe 5% of the total comb had open brood. Very disappointing. Tons of beetles but no beetle larvae. I did find the queen in one of the hives (stronger of the 2).
What are my options? Combine the 2 hives? Move to a sunnier spot?
My other hive, started from a very weak nuc is doing great. But it's on my balcony, in a much sunnier spot.