Re: dead out analysis
Treated for mites in fall. OAV. Bees made it thru the winter. About 2 weeks ago the all looked fine on some warmer days. I had sugar on top frames. Also had pollen patties. Hive died in the last few days. Upon inspection I found zero honey left in frames. Combs all cleaned rite up. Number of bees seemed ok maybe slightly low. ALOT of bees were head first fully inside individual cells. I think the hive starved. With plenty of sugar and pollen patties does this sound reasonable? Sugar was on them all winter.
Appreciate any thoughts. I have put sugar water in other two hives. Michigan. 30 to 50 degree temp swings last few weeks
Tmac,, good news the frames and comb, it looks good, yes if they had no honey left, they likely starved out. What did the hives weight in the fall? A large cluster can consume a lot of store over the winter. IMO bees can be delayed from starving on sugar but they will not thrive on sugar. Watch the Youtube from Ian Steppler for winter prep. right now bees are turning honey and pollen into bees, as bees hatch there are more mouths to feed. I am close to your location, I like to winter with 8-11 inches of honey over the empty comb, So if a medium is 6 5/8 take away the wood and bee space that is more like 6 inches of honey so 3 more on the top of the box below should suffice.
Should really evaluate stores in the fall VIA weight or inspection.
keep in mind in winter bees slowly travel up the comb, some documents suggest, appx 1mm per day they warm the honey under the bee mass and consume it, working their way up. So the thing to understand is during the cold temps the bees do not leave the cluster to go up to the sugar pile collect some and come back. That would be like you walking 100 yards out to the barn naked at 20 below zero to get the eggs. I consider sugar a "back up plan" if honey runs low they can get a little during warm spells. Ideally the bees winter stores is in capped cells over top the cluster.