Bees tearing down comb

[rjones]

I checked my hives for the first time this season. One is starting to ramp up production four frames of eggs and capped brood. Hive two quite a few bees did not see the queen, no brood of any kind. The bottom board has a lot of what I would call wax flakes, it also looks like they are tearing down the comb in the brood boxes. They do have some stores. I did go ahead and put sugar water on them. Any ideas as to want is happening.

[iddee]

Sounds like robbing. Check the hive after dark and see if it is empty.

[riverbee]

"The bottom board has a lot of what I would call wax flakes, it also looks like they are tearing down the comb in the brood boxes"

does the comb look like it has been chewed or torn? ragged edges?

oops iddee responded as i was posting, my suspicion is as iddee's is that your hive is been robbed.

[Woody Roberts]

Same opinion as above. Lots of wax flakes on floor. Sometimes even strewn out the entrance. Honey combs look like they've been uncapped with a chainsaw?

[rjones]

The comb is being taken back down to the plastic foundation but only where there has been brood. I didn't see any damage in the super which still has capped honey.  The edges that was not down to the foundation looked a little ragged. I will go check tomorrow night.

[Woody Roberts]

Are they needing a place to draw drone comb? If the honeys intact I'm clutching at straws here.

[iddee]

I'm thinking a queenless hive that doesn't have young bees to make wax, so they are recycling it. I would put a frame of eggs and brood from the other hive in it and see if they make queen cells.

[rjones]

I will do all the suggestions. Theses two hives had to be moved a month ago and we were still having cold days. Thanks

[Perry]

I assume that there still were bees in there at night?