There is no reason a colony should not be able to live for well over 100
years.  Before our problem with mites, I personally knew of one that lived
for over 30 years in an old barn.  Unfortunately, shortly after the mites
arrived here it died.
During its life a colony will grow too large for its site.  Then it will
throw a swarm, but enough bees will remain to repopulate the site.  The
large colony I knew of used to throw a swarm every year.
However, even before mites wild colonys would die out.  This was usually
because they became infected with American Foulbrood, or threw a swarm late
in the year and failed to raise a new queen.  In the latter case, one could
make the case that the colony presumably still continued to live...only in a
new location.
But to repeat, there is no biological or other reason that I am aware of
which would put anything self-limiting on how long a wild colony would live.
-----Original Message-----
From: Carlos Aparicio <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Friday, January 02, 1998 10:24 AM
Subject: How much time a beehive lives?
 
 
>        Some time ago I have a doubt, whose response could not find in any
>apiculture book, and that perhaps someone could give me at the very least
an
>opinion.
>        The question is:  How much time   lives a bee colony?
>        Is out of the point  how much lives a bee, or drone or queen, but
the
>colony in its current location.
>        Interest particularly the wild colonies.
>        I know one that is more than fifteen years, and it does not give
>obsolescence signs.
>I ask me if it will be able to arrive to 50 years, or to hundred.
>        Any opinion or feedback  on this subject will be greatly
appreciated.
>
>        Carlos Aparicio
>