Lots of Dead Bees on the Ground? Causes and Solutions

A couple of weeks ago, I saw lots of dead bees on the ground outside the beehive. I was not sure what the hell was going on. I was wondering why are there so many dead bees on the ground?

Typically, a few dead bees are nothing to worry about for me. Because it’s a natural part of their life cycle. But this time, the number of dead bees was far more than usual.

Being curious and concerned, I began researching the possible causes behind lots of dead bees on the ground. I have talked with other beekeepers in my region. I also joined discussions on forums and explored social media groups.

That’s when I discovered that I wasn’t alone. Many beekeepers in my region, and even around the world, were experiencing the same issue.

In this article, I’ll share what I learned about the causes of this phenomenon and the solutions that can help protect our bees. So, the main outcome of this post will be.

Possible causes behind seeing “lots of dead bees on the ground“.

As a Beekeeper, how can we tackle the problem?

Key Features:

Is Identifying Dead Bees In The Ground Normal?

Yes, identifying dead bees in the ground is normal if it is just a few numbers. Sometimes bees can die for several reasons, like drone bees after mating, robber bees, due to sanitation, etc.

Dead bees on the ground

But if you continuously discover more than a handful of dead bees in the ground, this is not normal. This is a clear indication that there might be a problem inside the colony.

How Many Dead Bees Is Normal?

The number actually varies depending on many factors like geography, environmental factors, colony size, etc. In a large hive, almost 500 to 1200 bees die on average.

But those bees won’t die in the same place as in front of your hive repeatedly. Those number of bees die due to several factors, including the following.

Drone bees after mating with the queen.
While going out to collect pollen and nectar.

While trying to steal honey from another colony.
Some bees might be rejected and killed by other colony members for some reasons.
Due to environmental effects.

While defending the colony from predators.

The death of bees won’t happen in a particular location on a regular basis. So, if you see a huge number of bees on the ground around your beehive repeatedly, it’s not normal.

Your bees are probably having a tough time, and you have to do something for them.

But if you see a handful of bees around your hive, it’s not a fact to be worried about.

Why Are There So Many Dead Bees On The Ground

Discovering a huge number of dead bees on the ground is an indication of danger for the colony. The colony might go through mites or virus attacks, or they have a tough environment inside the hive, etc.

In my case, I discovered 2 major problems that cause the death of a large number of bees daily.

Overcrowded Hive: My hive became overcrowded, and there was a lack of food supply. Because I haven’t inspected the hive for approximately the last 40 days. So, I was not aware that my hive had become overcrowded. Also, the current season in my country is fall. So, the bees also became aggressive.
Mite Infestation: There was a mite attack in my colony. After researching, I found that Tropilaelaps mites are the culprit behind the death of my colony members.

After finding the root causes, I called a pest control expert for mite treatment on my colony. Then I split the hive into 2 separate hives. Then I saw that the number of dead bees on the ground had been reduced.

Possible Reasons Why Are There So Many Dead Bees On The Ground

However, in your case, there can be several other reasons too. Let’s discuss the possible reasons behind finding a lot of dead honey bees on the ground.

Those Might Be Bumblebees, Not Honey Bees

It is seen that sometimes a lot of bumble bees die due to some reasons. If you have a honey bee colony and discover bumble bees around your hive, it might not be a concern for you.

But if you keep bumble bees, then it should be a matter of fact for you. So, first, be sure whether the dead bees are bumble bees or honey bees.

Those Bees Also Can Be Other Ground Bees

Ground bees are solitary in nature. They are not as defensive as honey bees. So, ground bees can be killed easily by other predators.

Ground bees are also pollinators like honey bees. So, they might also die while foraging for pollen and nectar.

So, if you see dead ground bees on the ground, it should not be a serious thing to concern. So, first, you have to be sure the bees on the ground around the beehive are your own colony members.

Due To Mite Infestation

Varroa mite is a serious danger to bee colonies. There are so many mites that can cause the death of a honey bee colony. So, mite infestation can be one of the major reasons for the death of bees.

A research has found that 48% of the honey bee colonies got attacked by varroa mites in 2022-23. There are other mites too that can be responsible for the death of honey bees all over the world.

Due To Overpopulation

When a honey bee colony becomes overcrowded, they might not fit in the same hive. Several diseases can be raised through the colony.

Also, there can be a lack of food to feed those huge numbers of members. There can be conflict among the colony members for survival.

These factors might cause the death of several bees in a colony. So, you have to check whether the hive looks overcrowded or not.

If you are a commercial beekeeper, make sure to assign an optimal number of hives per apiary. If you are using an excess amount of hives per apiary, there will be huge competition among bees. As a result, a lot of bees might die.

Due To Pest And Parasites

Many parasites may start living inside honey bee colonies. Some of those parasites expand their existence by eating the bodies of honey bees. As a result, a lot of bees might die.

Once, I discovered earwigs in my beehive. Those earwigs caused the death of some of my bees. There can be so many other pests and parasites causing the death of honey bees.

Attack By Predators

Based on geographic locations, different predators may attack honey bees. A huge number of honey bee predators exist that can harm bees. Their main targets are honey, not the bees.

Predators Of Honey Bees — Honey Bee Predators

While they try to rob honey, honey bees will try to defend. As a result, a lot of bees can die.

The following are the common and well-known honey bee predators.

Raccoons.

Bears.
Giant Lizards.
Skunks.

Cats.
Dragonflies.
Wasps.

Hornets.
Birds (e.g. woodpeckers).
Bats.

Moths.
Opossum.
Reptile.

Spiders, etc.

Among all the predators that honey bees face, bears pose the greatest threat. Each year, black bears in the United States are responsible for the destruction of numerous beehives

Due To The Bad Environmental Effect

Winter is the worst season for honey bees. Honey bees have to do a lot of work during that season to keep moisture out of their hive.

The combination of a lack of food and too low temperatures creates a harsh situation for bees.

Bees can face storms or heavy rainfall when they are foraging for pollen. So, harsh weather can be a big reason for identifying dead bees around a beehive.

Queenless Hive

You know that the queen is the main coordinator of a honey bee colony. The entire honey bee colony is ruled by the queen. So, if a hive becomes queenless, the remaining bees may show abnormal behavior.

Moreover, if the queen died during winter when there were no brood bees, it could be more worse. Because queenless hives won’t survive long during winter.

When there is no queen, more bees can die for several reasons. So, when you discover a lot of dead bees on the ground you must check for the queen status inside the hive.

Use Of Insecticides And Pesticides

Honey bees may react differently to different chemicals. It is always preferable to avoid using insecticides or pesticides around honey bee colonies.

In fact, for mite treatment, you should contact an expert. While you are running an alcohol wash, you might do it in the wrong way. As a result, your colony might die.

So, treating bee disease in the wrong way can also cause the death of honey bees. The use of insecticides and pesticides around honey bee colonies can be a reason for identifying so many dead bees on the ground.

Colony Collapse Disorder(CCD)

Colony collapse disorder is seen within honey bee colonies. This is actually killing its own colony members for several reasons.

Most of this happened for the survival of the colony. Weak colony members may be killed by the strong members.

Sometimes, a group of workers starts protesting against the queen. So, they start fighting with the queen. Another worker group may take the queen’s side.

As a result, a war between 2 groups of bees of the same colony takes place. Thus, a lot of bees can die during the war. In most cases of CCD, you will see a handful of bees walking on the ground.

What To Do As a Beekeeper (Solutions)?

The first task is to identify the exact reason why you are seeing a lot of dead bees on the ground. After identifying the reason, you can solve the problem on your own.

If required, contact a pest control specialist. Also, you can get help from expert beekeepers about the issue.

What to do when you see lots of dead bees on the ground — Things to do to avoid lots of dead bees on the ground

However, here are some tips that can be helpful for you to avoid the undesired death of honey bees.

Inspect Hive Regularly: It is always preferred to schedule your hive inspection date. It should be noted that you should not inspect the hive every day. In different types of colonies and in different seasons, hive inspections are at different frequencies. Also, you must avoid inspection under some conditions that are not suitable for hive inspection.
Requeen The Queenless Hive: As I already told you queenless hive can’t survive long. So, you should try anyway to requeen a queenless hive as soon as possible.

Split Overcrowded Hive: You know, overcrowded hives have a lot of problems for bees. So whenever the hive becomes overcrowded, it is always suggested to split the hive into 2 or more.
Don’t Use Chemicals Around Hives: Try to avoid insecticides, pesticides, or any chemical close to the hive. For mite treatment, communicate with expert beekeepers. You can also call a pest control specialist.
Create A Barrier Around Your Hives: You must create a barrier around the hive to prevent attack by predators.

Plant More Pollinating Plants Close To The Hive: It is always suggested to place a beehive close to a garden. Having more bee-friendly plants in your garden will be more beneficial. Because bees won’t have to travel longer distances to collect pollen and nectar.
Winterize Your Beehive: You know winter is a very tough time for bees. So, you should winterize your beehive before winter arrives. Bees have to do a lot to control extra moisture during winter. If your area becomes very cold during winter, you can use a beehive moisture board for your beehive.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I keep finding dead bees outside my house?

It is common to see dead bees outside the house after a natural disaster. Also, there might be a beehive close to your house. They might also be those ground nesting bees created nest around your house.

What does a bunch of dead bees mean?

It could be a threatening sign for the colony. A small amount of dead bees is a common phenomenon in honey bee colonies. But the continuous discovery of a bunch of dead bees means the colony is in danger. So, you should identify the reason and fix it to help your bees to survive.

What happens if you don't remove dead bees?

Usually, bees remove dead members of the colony during the sanitation process. Sometimes bees may die due to virus or mite infection. If you don't remove those dead bees the disease will attack the rest of the bees.

What does it mean when you see a lot of dead bees?

Seeing many dead bees often signals stress in the colony. Common causes include pesticide exposure, disease, poor nutrition, or extreme weather. In some cases, it may also indicate natural bee die-off near the hive entrance. If losses seem excessive, it’s best to inspect the hive for underlying problems.

What Next?

Hopefully, the discussion so far will be helpful for you to figure out the reason behind “why are there so many dead bees on the ground“. First, find out the exact reason behind the death of your bees.

Then take the necessary steps. If you can’t fix this on your own, contact a local beekeeper in your area. Pest control specialists can also be helpful for you to tackle the problem.

Now you can check the article to know about how many hives do commercial beekeepers have.

Lots of Dead Bees on the Ground? Causes and Solutions