hives absconding this fall

[rober]

I've not had any but have been hearing about a lot of hives absconding this fall. any others seeing or hearing the same?

[BeeMaster2]

Yes, we talked about this problem at the club. I lost one about 6 weeks ago.
Jim

[GSF]

So far I'm still at 100%

[CBT]

I can't say the same. Found out that hive Beatles will make the bees leave.

[rober]

which beatle was in your hive, paul or ringo?

[MRBeek]

We have had such a mild fall here in northern Wi. I didn't wrap my 2 hives until the first week of Nov. and the bees were out in force the day I did wrap them up. Last week I was riding my ranger and stopped by the hives just to check on them, so I tapped on the first hive and heard the buzz but the second hive was quite when I tapped the hive, they were fine 3 weeks ago. I then took off the winter top cover and tapped again but nothing so I might have lost that hive. What should I do with that hive, it's full with honey, will all hives buzz if tapped, tear it down and check?

[GSF]

I talked to someone today I had sold some hives to this past spring/summer. She called because she wanted to know what would make 3 strong hives up and leave, leaving behind capped brood & plenty of stores. Not the first dead or live bee to be found. That's the first I've heard about around here.

[rober]

I'd freeze & store those frames & use them as needed. I'm wondering if these absconding hives are why I got the late swarm calls.

[tjc1]

Per my earlier post, I and a mentoree new beek have both had fall abscondings, and others have responded that it is happening here in the northeast... I sent comb/bood samples to Beltsville lab and will report back what I hear.

[rober]

somehow I managed to miss that whole thread, DOH!

[rober]

checked my hives today. 2 weeks ago all was well. today a couple seemed to have much smaller populations & my strongest hive was empty. nary a bee. & something else that was odd was that several of the hives were clustering on top of the lower box not on top. what was looking like a promising winter survival rate just changed to not looking too good at all. time will tell.

[ricky_arthur]

checked my hives today. 2 weeks ago all was well. today a couple seemed to have much smaller populations & my strongest hive was empty. nary a bee. & something else that was odd was that several of the hives were clustering on top of the lower box not on top. what was looking like a promising winter survival rate just changed to not looking too good at all. time will tell.

Rober.  The top of the hive is the bottom of the food. Your bees are clustered right where you want them right now.  Assuming there is honey above them obviously.