Just today - dead larvae outside the hive

[Jen]

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

[Perry]

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.

[Papakeith]

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.

[barry42001]

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.

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[robo]

 

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....

[iddee]

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.

[Jen]

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.

[tefer2]

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

[Jen]

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?

[riverbee]

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.

[tefer2]

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.  :'(

[LazyBkpr]

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...