Ron Harriger wrote:
> Fellow keepers of the bee,
>
>    I visited a bee yard the other day and from a distance I could see numerous
> bees on the ground.  As I got closer I could tell that most of them were dead
> and a few were moving about. The good thing about it is they all were drones.
> As I stood and watched for a while I witnessed other drones being dragged out
> of the hive and dropped to the ground......
 
I have that here in the UK at the moment.  I'm pretty certain here  that
it's  a  combination  of over production of drones and a stretch of cold
weather (13-15 C) causing a gap in the honey  flow.   The  colonies  all
have  plenty  of stores (so far) and only light varroa infestation, so I
guess mine are just checking their insurance policy.   Of  course  there
could be other reasons where you are.
 
Regards,
--
Gordon Scott    [log in to unmask]         100332,3310 on CompuServe
Newsletter      [log in to unmask]      ditto
                Beekeeper, Kendo Sandan, sometime sailor.
                Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG22 5HP, UK