Death in the Apiary
We had a week of cold and snow on the farm.
The weather made for some beautiful pictures, which you can see on the Facebook page, but it got very cold. On a mild day this week, my wife came in from outside and said, “There’s no activity in the apiary.”
Author Kyle Pratt checks a hive
I like to keep two colonies, but one colony had died last year. I hurried to my one remaining colony.
Bees are very clean and will not defecate in the hive. So, on mild winter days they fly out to take care of business. As I approached it was clear no bees were busy doing business. I put my ear to the hive. No buzzing.
At that point I opened the hive. Thousands of bees were there in a tight cluster—all dead.
Since I see each colony as being in my care, it really saddens me if one dies. I feel there is always something more I could have, or should have, done.
After a few days of mourning, I’ll clean out the hive boxes and order two more colonies of Carniolan honey bees through my local bee association.
Hopefully, next winter will be mild.