# Bees absconded. Here's what happened **URL:** \ **Category:** Wintering your Flow Hive\ **Created:** [December 18, 2022, 9:39pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/bees-absconded-heres-what-happened/34098 "2022-12-18T21:39:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![KShep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58f4c7/32.png) [@KShep](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/KShep)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2022, 9:39pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/bees-absconded-heres-what-happened/34098/1 "2022-12-18T21:39:53Z")
First year. All was well so I waited until a warm-ish day in October to harvest honey from the super. I took from 3/7 frames. A couple of weeks ago in November I went to take the super off and put it in our basement. The bees were all gone! I took the super inside and harvested the rest of the honey. What do I do with the frames in the brood box and what do I do with the harvested super frames? I’ve ordered two more nucs for the spring. How do I make sure this doesn’t happen again? The local beekeeping supply store things it was veroa mites. I never checked or treated for them. Didn’t think I needed to, but they said that mite are pretty common here. Looking for help with next steps. Thank you all in advance! Kim ---
**Author:** ![Dawn\_SD](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/dawn_sd/32/15954_2.png) [@Dawn\_SD](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Dawn_SD)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2022, 10:33pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/bees-absconded-heres-what-happened/34098/2 "2022-12-18T22:33:43Z")
Hello and welcome to the Flow forum! 😊 > [@KShep](#): > > I waited until a warm-ish day in October to harvest honey from the super That is pretty late, but I would check with your local beekeepers, as some areas have a late nectar flow in the fall. Here in California, we are pretty much done by early August. I take the supers off by September at the latest, otherwise the bees jam them up with propolis which is horrible to remove. > [@KShep](#): > > What do I do with the frames in the brood box If they are empty, keep them somewhere cold (garage, shed etc) and wrap them in burlap/hessian to stop wax moths, cockroaches and other pests from getting at them. You could use plastic, but that can encourage mold, so I prefer something breathable but insect-proof. > [@KShep](#): > > what do I do with the harvested super frames? Freeze them, and then wrap in burlap. they will be fine next year. > [@KShep](#): > > How do I make sure this doesn’t happen again? 1. Run double brood boxes, if you aren’t already. Single brood is not enough in Colorado 2. Do proper varroa mite counts. Not sticky boards. Not visual inspection of bees. Get or make a kit to do sugar roll or alcohol wash counts, but assume that you will need to treat _ **at least** _ twice per year, and maybe more. I usually treat in early March, then again in August and often September/October. 3. Learn from your mistakes, and you will become a great beekeeper! I would also suggest that you join a local bee club. Don’t mention that you have a Flow hive, as most traditional beekeepers are not fans of Flow. Just say that you have a Langstroth hive, and ask your questions from there. Everything about managing a Flow hive is the same as for Langstroths, except for the harvesting. We can help you with the harvesting. Use your locals for the advice needed for non-harvesting issues. 😊 ---
**Author:** ![EricR](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/ericr/32/25725_2.png) [@EricR](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/EricR)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2022, 12:25pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/bees-absconded-heres-what-happened/34098/3 "2022-12-19T12:25:12Z")
Hello, Where are you in Colorado? I am in Longmont. Entering my second winter. 1 flow hive. Eric ---
**Author:** ![Dawn\_SD](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/dawn_sd/32/15954_2.png) [@Dawn\_SD](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Dawn_SD)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2022, 12:39pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/bees-absconded-heres-what-happened/34098/4 "2022-12-19T12:39:20Z")
He/she (never can tell with a name like Kim) is around 70 miles south of you in Franktown, CO, according to his/her profile… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![EricR](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/ericr/32/25725_2.png) [@EricR](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/EricR)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2022, 12:45pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/bees-absconded-heres-what-happened/34098/5 "2022-12-19T12:45:38Z")
thanks I should have taken a look at the profile before clogging up the Forum ---
**Author:** ![KShep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58f4c7/32.png) [@KShep](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/KShep)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2022, 1:17pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/bees-absconded-heres-what-happened/34098/6 "2022-12-19T13:17:17Z")
Thank you, thank you, thank you! Yes, I have noticed that traditionally, beekeepers are not a fan. I feel like a closet Flow hivekeeper. If it wasn’t for the Flow I probably wouldn’t be doing it, but I absolutely love it. Cried when my bees left. Lots of lessons learned here. I appreciate the support! And @EricR it’s nice to know there are others in CO! ---
**Author:** ![KShep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58f4c7/32.png) [@KShep](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/KShep)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2022, 1:20pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/bees-absconded-heres-what-happened/34098/7 "2022-12-19T13:20:37Z")
@ [Dawn\_SD](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Dawn_SD) I’m printing this and will follow these steps. I so appreciate the help. ---
**Author:** ![EricR](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/ericr/32/25725_2.png) [@EricR](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/EricR)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2022, 1:30pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/bees-absconded-heres-what-happened/34098/8 "2022-12-19T13:30:23Z")
Hello, There is yet another Flow hive keeper in Longmont. She has 2 Flow hives ---
**Author:** ![KShep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58f4c7/32.png) [@KShep](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/KShep)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2022, 1:42pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/bees-absconded-heres-what-happened/34098/9 "2022-12-19T13:42:06Z")
Sweet! We should all meet up for coffee one day! ---
**Author:** ![chau06](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/chau06/32/25515_2.png) [@chau06](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/chau06)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2022, 6:46pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/bees-absconded-heres-what-happened/34098/10 "2022-12-19T18:46:03Z")
> [@Dawn\_SD](#): > > I usually treat in early March, then again in August and often September/October. Where the colonies are broodless or nearly broodless because of the winter and dearth, a varroa treatment around the winter solstice is pretty popular too. I don’t do an alcohol wash for this treatment because it is too cold to open up the hive but I count the mite drop 24° after the vaporization and treat again in 5-7 days if there’re more that 25 mites. I have also been doing a mite check with low threshold for treatment about 2 weeks before I am going to put the super on, so in early-mid April. Unless it is a really nice day, I might to an accelerated mite drop count for this treatment too. Your seasons may differ a bit but are probably more similar to mine than in San Diego. ---
**Author:** ![JeffH](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/jeffh/32/7192_2.png) [@JeffH](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/JeffH)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2022, 8:21pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/bees-absconded-heres-what-happened/34098/11 "2022-12-19T20:21:04Z")
Hi Kim, Flow beekeeping does come with challenges that traditional beekeepers don’t face. You’ll get lots of help in this forum to help you deal with those challenges as they arise. Some people start their beekeeping journey as Flow beekeepers, then as they get serious about beekeeping, turn into traditional beekeepers. One example is @Rodderick . I think @Semaphore & also @Webclan fall into that category. However they still use their Flow hives, I think. ---
**Author:** ![KShep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58f4c7/32.png) [@KShep](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/KShep)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2022, 8:36pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/bees-absconded-heres-what-happened/34098/12 "2022-12-19T20:36:05Z")
Wonderful, thank you! ---
**Author:** ![KShep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58f4c7/32.png) [@KShep](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/KShep)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2022, 2:54pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/bees-absconded-heres-what-happened/34098/13 "2022-12-20T14:54:19Z")
> [@Dawn\_SD](#): > > If they are empty, keep them somewhere cold (garage, shed etc) and wrap them in burlap/hessian to stop wax moths, cockroaches and other pests from getting at them. You could use plastic, but that can encourage mold, so I prefer something breathable but insect-proof. Question on this: the frames are full with honey and obviously dead brood. Should I not dispose of them if a new colony will be coming in the spring? If so, how should I do that. I heard you can’t simply throw them away. ---
**Author:** ![KShep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58f4c7/32.png) [@KShep](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/KShep)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2022, 2:56pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/bees-absconded-heres-what-happened/34098/14 "2022-12-20T14:56:28Z")
> [@Dawn\_SD](#): > > Freeze them, and then wrap in burlap. they will be fine next year. RE: harvested super frames: Do I clean them first? If so how? And if I do that, do you mean one at a time, wrap them individually in burlap and then inside of what? Will the heated basement work or should it be out in the garage for sure? TIA. ---
**Author:** ![Dawn\_SD](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/dawn_sd/32/15954_2.png) [@Dawn\_SD](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Dawn_SD)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2022, 7:32pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/bees-absconded-heres-what-happened/34098/15 "2022-12-20T19:32:58Z")
> [@KShep](#): > > full with honey and obviously dead brood If you have enough space, and they don’t smell bad at this point, I would wrap them in plastic and keep in the freezer until you get your new colony. Try to store them upright, otherwise any uncapped honey will slowly leak out of the cells. Honey doesn’t really freeze, it goes to a caramel-like texture, and makes a pesky mess in the freezer if you didn’t know about it! (Yes, it has happened to me). I know it sounds gross, but bees are perfectly happy to recycle dead larvae for the protein. Any that they don’t fancy, will just get tossed out of the hive. If you don’t have the freezer space, I would freeze them for 24 hours to kill off wax moth eggs, then cut out the areas of comb with brood in them and store the remaining frame with honey in a hive box wrapped in burlap in a cool place. The part with brood in it can then either be thrown in the trash, or you can render it for the wax. A bit messy and gross, but the wax will be perfectly good. ---
**Author:** ![Dawn\_SD](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/dawn_sd/32/15954_2.png) [@Dawn\_SD](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Dawn_SD)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2022, 7:36pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/bees-absconded-heres-what-happened/34098/16 "2022-12-20T19:36:41Z")
> [@KShep](#): > > harvested super frames: Do I clean them first? You don’t need to do that, unless they have propolis or dead brood in them. The bees will clean them up when you put it back on the hive again. I would freeze them for 24 hours (wax moth eggs again), then put them all back in the super box. Wrap the whole box in burlap and leave in the garage. The cooler, the better. No need to have them inside the house. As long as they are protected from sun and pests, they will be fine. ---
**Author:** ![KShep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58f4c7/32.png) [@KShep](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/KShep)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2022, 7:37pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/bees-absconded-heres-what-happened/34098/17 "2022-12-20T19:37:21Z")
Thank you for all the details! Last question. What about the super frames? do I freeze them and then wrap them in burlap? Can I put them into a plastic box after that? ---
**Author:** ![Dawn\_SD](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/dawn_sd/32/15954_2.png) [@Dawn\_SD](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Dawn_SD)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2022, 7:39pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/bees-absconded-heres-what-happened/34098/18 "2022-12-20T19:39:22Z")
> [@KShep](#): > > Can I put them into a plastic box after that? I wouldn’t put them in a plastic box - mold can often grow if you do that, making more work for the bees to clean up. Just use the Flow super and wrap in burlap 😉 ---
**Author:** ![KShep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58f4c7/32.png) [@KShep](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/KShep)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2022, 7:39pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/bees-absconded-heres-what-happened/34098/19 "2022-12-20T19:39:20Z")
Ok perfect, thank you! Merry Christmas and All the Happy Holidays! ---
**Author:** ![Webclan](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/webclan/32/11252_2.png) [@Webclan](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Webclan)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2022, 9:55pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/bees-absconded-heres-what-happened/34098/20 "2022-12-21T21:55:39Z")
Hi Jeff. Yes, most of my hives are Langstroth now. I love using the flow supers on a strong nectar flow though. Can’t beat the aroma of flow honey, especially if you don’t mix all the honey together. [Next page](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/bees-absconded-heres-what-happened/34098.md?page=2)