We don’t get harsh winters in Los Angeles, but the cold and reduced forage do have an effect on the bees. I looked in on the ladies and the Pink Hive was simply too weak to survive, as I had feared over the last few inspections.
The queen is two years old. As queens get older, the can become less productive and slow or stop laying eggs. I had been seeing the drop off over the last few inspections. Without new bees, a colony is doomed.
I ended up combining the Pink Hive into another, to save as many of the bees as I could. Unfortunate, but still hoping for the other three stronger hives to make it to spring.
