Empty hive

[yummersetter]

My OH, who is the beekeeper, has just come in to say that one of our hives has been deserted. He housed a swarm in there in late May / early June and last looked a couple of days ago when it was busy and buzzing. Today there isn't a single bee, no dead ones either, no stores and no capped brood. Any ideas what could have caused the exodus?

[alldigging]

Varroa? (From what was said at the last beekeepers meeting I went to)

Apparently our local bee inspector says most (all) 'colony collapse' disorder thing are due to varrao mite reaching massive levels.

If there was stores and brood though I don't know what would have happened to that

[yummersetter]

Could that happen in six weeks? The adjoining hive (both in a beehouse ) has hardly any varroa. We'll have a look anyway.

[soladragon]

Sounds like something from the X Files... You could say I want to Beelieve :P

[alldigging]

Could that happen in six weeks? The adjoining hive (both in a beehouse ) has hardly any varroa. We'll have a look anyway.

I've no idea - I've only recently started with the bee thing! I just remember what the man said at the meeting the other day.

For everything to have gone in a few days sounds really strange though.

[yummersetter]

Weirder and weirder - we've got a swarm just landed in an apple tree. Just at the moment we don't know if its the absconders returned or another of our hives flitting or visitors. Guess we know of a vacant home for them.

[CaroltheCarrot]

Sounds to me like your hive was queenless,if there was no mated and laying queen then the bees would have nothing to do and would just b*gger off.
Am no expert mind

[yummersetter]

New swarm boxed, from the varroa resistant hive next door, with queen, ready to move in. Happy to have them. Happier than we were with the previous visitors as these are special.