Worldwide Beekeeping

Beekeeping => General Beekeeping => Topic started by: Jen on March 12, 2014, 01:00:13 pm

Title: Just today - dead larvae outside the hive
Post by: Jen on March 12, 2014, 01:00:13 pm

Uh Oh!! went to put on some syrup this morning and spotted three dead larvae on the landing ~ Yikes!

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs1.postimg.cc%2F5ang3qssr%2FDSCF8962.jpg&hash=4b8f9ad1f5372905e9a9e161520d15b90688aec2) (http://postimg.cc/image/5ang3qssr/)

Title: Re: Just today - dead larvae outside the hive
Post by: Perry on March 12, 2014, 01:28:18 pm

It may just be a few larvae or pupae that got chilled and the bees pulled them out and dropped them there. I wouldn't get too concerned unless you start seeing huge numbers.

Title: Re: Just today - dead larvae outside the hive
Post by: Papakeith on March 12, 2014, 01:31:34 pm

I've learned recently that there are some that are breeding for bee traits such as this. So, I see that as a good sign that the bees are keeping up with their cleaning.  Better to discard the dead larvae than let them fester inside the hive.

Title: Re: Just today - dead larvae outside the hive
Post by: barry42001 on March 12, 2014, 02:23:20 pm

we have been told that the bees will never raised more brood, then they can cover. Well while that is generally true, where it the absolute truth you wouldn't find any dead larvae or pupae laying around outside the hive.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Just today - dead larvae outside the hive
Post by: robo on March 12, 2014, 02:52:26 pm

 :yah:

We are also told that they won't raise a queen from a larvae that is "too old".    But yet they will try to raise a queen from an unfertilized egg  :-\

There are no "certains" in beekeeping....

Title: Re: Just today - dead larvae outside the hive
Post by: iddee on March 12, 2014, 02:57:20 pm

Also, even if they have enough bees to cover at the temp the eggs are layed, a cold night will cause them to shrink the cluster and they no longer have enough to cover them all. The queen doesn't know what the temp will be in a week, only what it is when she lays the eggs.

Title: Re: Just today - dead larvae outside the hive
Post by: Jen on March 12, 2014, 03:00:14 pm

That makes sense. We hit 30 degrees two nights ago. Plenty of frost on the roof tops in the morning. I was concerned cause I had taken the insulation off of the hive.

Title: Re: Just today - dead larvae outside the hive
Post by: tefer2 on March 12, 2014, 07:47:21 pm

Jen, was going to check and see what your day temps were?
you don't have your home town listed? ???

Title: Re: Just today - dead larvae outside the hive
Post by: Jen on March 12, 2014, 09:33:27 pm

Hi Tef- day temps are averages between 50 and 60 by 2 o'clock. But Two nights ago it dropped quickly to below 30. So that explains some of the dead larva.

Maybe I should put the insulation back on for another month?

Title: Re: Just today - dead larvae outside the hive
Post by: riverbee on March 12, 2014, 09:36:28 pm

not to worry jen, these are pupae, not larval stage, with brown eyes,(eyes go from white to pink to purple and then to brown) so like perry said unless
you would start seeing a few numbers, i would not worry, and at this time of year 'chilled brood' does happen. 

also like papakeith was referring to, hygenic behavior of the bees.

Title: Re: Just today - dead larvae outside the hive
Post by: tefer2 on March 13, 2014, 08:05:17 am

We leave our top insulation and the tar paper until the weather stabilizes.
The way it's swinging this spring, it may never happen here! I'm tired of it.  :'(

Title: Re: Just today - dead larvae outside the hive
Post by: LazyBkpr on March 13, 2014, 10:42:27 am

Quote from: tefer2 on March 13, 2014, 08:05:17 am

We leave our top insulation and the tar paper until the weather stabilizes.
The way it's swinging this spring, it may never happen here! I'm tired of it.  :'(

   Agreed...  26 yesterday, 56 today...