out of 4 hives I have just discoverd i dead smelly hive. Its was last opened xmas eve. I'ts been very hot many many days in the 40's and high humitity here in Syd Australia. This hive smells sour like vinegar, no brood at all (to test) , a few moths a few wasps a stream of tiny ants going in there is honey in the top box, but seems to be "melting" the bottom :? although its not hot today, its just running down and out the bottom box,(they are all dark old combs from someone else) its a rust brown colour. there appear to be 1/4 inch white maggots (2 -3 per bottom frame. ) a few hollowed out bee carcarses with bits missing. M2 of my other hives looked like they might want to swam a few weeks ago althoughg its too late, so maybe all the bees moved out ? Hive was from a swam 2 years ago.
anyone got any clues out there. I put it all back together cleaned up & replaced all bee water supplies around, some smelt ! & blocked up the bottom entry with newspaper while I work out what to do.