A dead colony in early to mid spring that was alive in winter through early spring.
Normally, spring colonies expand with the pollen availability and as the weather becomes warm and dry enough for bees to forage. However, in early spring, there is an imbalance of older workers with fewer younger workers to do the hive tasks. If the weather turns cold and wet and bees are unable to get out to forage fresh pollen, older-aged workers will continue to die (as they need to heat the brood area), but replacement workers are not emerging in sufficient numbers to replace those dying, resulting in colony starvation before the weather improves. Dead bees will be in cluster position (over brood) and piled on bottom board.
Key to diagnosis is the weather and a colony that doesn't have food available close to where the dead cluster is located.
adult bee depopulation, deadouts, parasitic mite syndrome, pesticide poisoning or damage
The Apiarist. n.d. Spring starvation. The Apiarist. Accessed 2023. https://www.theapiarist.org/spring-starvation/
Bee hive monitoring s.r.o. 2019. Blog, Honeybee starvation. Accessed 2024. https://beehivemonitoring.com/en/blog/post/honeybee-starvation.html
Burlew R. 2018. Did your bees die of cold or starvation? Honey Bee Suite. Accessed 2024. https://www.honeybeesuite.com/bees-die-cold-or-starvation/
"Beekeeping | How To Keep Your Bees From Starving In Spring" YouTube, uploaded by David Burns. 2 April 2023. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skmAhLQ9l_Q
