Half my hive is gone!

I checked my hive today. It seems half of the bees are gone and the rest are not working at making new combs. I have a frame totally empty! Should I start feeding them again?

It sounds like your colony may be struggling a bit. If half the bees are gone and they’ve stopped drawing comb, it could be due to lack of resources or a weakened queen. Yes, I’d suggest feeding them again with syrup to stimulate comb building and brood rearing, especially if there’s little nectar flow in your area. Also check for signs of queen activity (eggs, larvae, brood pattern) — if she’s not laying properly, that might explain the slowdown. A completely empty frame is not unusual if they don’t feel strong enough to expand. Feeding should help them regain momentum.

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Hello and welcome to the Flow forum! :blush:

To start with your question, if there is no nectar flow right now (there probably isn’t) then I would feed them. However, make sure that you use an in-hive feeder and reduce your entrance opening to around 1-2” to prevent robbers from stealing the food and killing your hive. :astonished_face:

It sounds to me like you may have had a late season swarm. Before today, when did you last inspect? Have you seen queen cells in your hive this season? Have you treated for varroa, and do you have a plan for varroa management for the fall? Do you have plans for overwintering your hive (insulation, moisture quilt, fondant feeding etc)?

Please ask if you have more questions, and hopefully @Eva will add some comments, as she is also in PA.

:wink:

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Hi Samantha, sorry your colony isnt doing well! I think my buddies covered everything to look for :raising_hands:. I will say that it has been extremely dry here near Philly and I’m about to put some feed into my hives. This spring was so wet and cold they didn’t get a chance to lay in a good base either!

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