If you have had the experience of a hive dying over winter,give us a evaluation of why it might have died.Maybe we can establish patterns.Lets not argue over methods in this post,just save the autopsies for analysis.Start another post and refer to this one for reference.It could prove a valuable sharing experience.Answer as many or as few as appropriate.
Do you have frigid temps for extended periods?
Is your climate arid,moist,cold(I measure a cold climate as one with extended below freezing temps where bees have extended periods without a cleansing flight.)
Are all your bees headfirst in the cells?
Are most of your bees dead on the bottom?
Are there any uncapped frames?
Is there signs of rodent entry?
Were boxes still heavy with stores?
Did the bees cleanse or evacuate themselves inside the hive?
Do you open your hives a lot when it's cold?
Solid or open bottoms?
Vent box on top or conventional cover?
Were the dead bees soaked with moisture?
Edit: 1/26/10
Added requested survey format here:
http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php/topic,26408.0.html