The winter stayed long in the Adirondacks and Green Mountains this year. At the end of March beginning of April I started to make my rounds to our apiaries. We loaded the truck and trailer with the tools and equipment needed for the day. The first two apiaries looked pretty good. It was a nice sunny day still cool, 48-50 degrees. Bees were flying a little.

We removed the hive reducers, wire and the wire off the 3/4″ top entrances and pulled off the winter wraps. Some were just tar paper others were insulated hive wraps.

Most of the colonies had signs of life at the front door, others I listened to with my stethoscope for the buzz. They all had signs of winter cleansing flights at the front door and at the top 3/4 inch entrance.

One colony died off because they did not move over two frames to the winter stores.

They stayed on  two frames and died there. If they had moved down or over to either side, the survival rations were there. Here are photos of the bees that died on the frames and frame tops.

At this point I felt like we did pretty good, only lost one out of 23 colonies so far. I could live with those numbers.

We arrived at the third apiary. I knew as soon as as I pulled in there was something wrong it did not feel right. There were no bees flying.

First thing I noticed that the hive wraps were all off and hanging on the ground. Not good. A closer examination of the wraps showed that there was not adequate staples used to hold the wrap in place. There was no duck tape or strings on any the wraps, which are applied to hold wrap in place in the wind. Needless to say I was not a happy camper. And the help sensed that by the fact that my left eye was slightly closed and I was silent.

As I prepared to examine the colony, I mentally switched from mild mannered beekeeper to the inquisitive CSI of the past. I was now on a mission and locked into Honeybee CSI mode. Looking to solve the puzzle and answer the question, “Who are You”.

The first colony I examined had no entrance reducer and no 1/2 x 1/2 wire over the four inch entrance that would have been there if someone had installed the entrance reducer as they were instructed. The entrance was full of debris.

I removed the top cover which had no rock or brick on it to assist in keeping the top cover in place.

The second I removed the top cover, I knew that a crime of passion had occurred within the walls of this colony and I knew there was going to thousands of victims. One hell of a crime scene.

As we proceed keep in mind Edmond Locard’s Exchange Principle which states that with contact between two items, there will always be an exchange. This is the basis of trace evidence collection at a crime scene. In other words, the perpetrators, how ever small or large will leave something at the scene and will take something from the scene by mere presence at the scene of the crime.

A good CSI uses all of their senses to process the scene. As I removed the cover I detected the order of urine. The first observation was of the top of the inner cover which I observed excrement at the entrance in the center of the inner cover. As we were not on TV, I did not  taste the evidence to determine it was left by the perpetrators. I also observed foundation debris on the inner cover.

Based on the order detected and the observation of the excrement and the fact that there was no hive reducer or wire at the front entrance or at the 3/4″ top entrance,  I was pretty sure I was dealing with the same criminal that invades my feed room each fall.

The suspect is approximately 3/4 of an once in weight, 5-7 inches long with 3 inches of tail, brown or grey in color, black eyes, large ears, sometimes will have a white stomach. A Mouse. For information on the suspect click on the link. http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/M/V-MA-MMUS-AD.002.htm

If the perpetrator entered the dwelling in the fall, the contents of the hive and its residents most likely did not survive the winter. We were investigating a home invasion, just like the old days.

Off came the inner cover. More evidence. Odor was concentrated. More foundation debris and excrement on the frame tops under the center entrance of the inner cover.

I could here one of the perpetrators moving inside. Suspect on scene!!! Hive tool at the ready. Prepare to enter the danger zone. As I took the next super off, the perpetrator fled the scene from one of the frames. My Australian Shepard K-9 gave pursuit. After a 45 second pursuit the suspect escaped and the K-9 was recalled.

Once inside the top honey super, I observed all the wax foundation and honey from the center frames had been consumed. Evidence of chewing was present on the wooden frames, but no impression for suspect bite mark identification was taken at this time.

There was one frame that still had wax foundation still attached. There was evidence of chewing on the wooden frame and the remaining foundation. This frame was taken as evidence and use in future classes and presentations.

As we processed and documented the scene, I noticed that the order of urine was intensifying, I also noted of scent of decomposing flesh. Both detections not normal within a honeybee colony.

As we entered the next super I discovered evidence that the suspect(s) had been within the dwelling for long period of time. A Nest was documented and photographed.

Notice the wire from the crimped foundation still attached, all wax and evidence of honey had been consumed.

The odor of urine and decomp had become more prevailing as we took off the super with the next.

I observed that the nest was constructed with leaf debris, hair, particles of wood which had been removed from wooden frames. A small pile of foundation particles and shreds were also observed inside the nest.

As I removed the last honey super and prepared to enter the hive bodies, I immediately observed the source of the decomp odor. The decomposed body of the one of a suspect(s) was observed on the top of the frames of the #2 hive body. Because the body was in an advanced decomposed states, I was unable to determine the cause of death at the scene. The body was documented and photographed. No autopsy will be conducted.

Also observed on the top of frames under the mouse nest observed in the honey super above was debris and residue from the mouse nest. The order was very strong. Also on the top of the frames was fecal evidence which was not collected as evidence.

The frames of the #2 hive contained no evidence of normal colony and brood activity. It appears that the foundation, pollen, honey and brood had been consumed by the perpetrators.

As I continued to examine the the nest and nest debris I discovered a decomposed body of a second suspect. As with the first body I was unable to determine the cause of death due to advanced decomposition. The body was documented and photographed. No autopsy will be performed.

As we removed the #1 hive body, I observed the debris on top of the screened bottom board. The bottom board debris consisted of partial dead bee cadavers, fecal matter, wax moth larvae. Hair fibers, foundation shreds and wood splinters were also observed.

The odor was very strong. The bottom bars of hive body #1 were not present and appeared to have removed by the perpetrators by chewing the bars into shreds and splinters and using the shreds and splinters for nesting material.

The processing of this single crime scene is complete. This yard contained 12 four story colonies and two over wintered nukes. As I proceeded through the yard all twelve colonies and two nukes had been invaded in the hostile takeover. A total 18 decomposed bodies of perpetrators were discovered as the scenes were processed.

The frames and foundation of the colonies were completely destroyed by the perpetrators. From the equipment stand point, with two honey supers and two hive bodies of frames and foundation, the estimated value would be approximately $88.00 per colony. This yard had a total of twelve colonies and two nukes. The frame and foundation value of the nukes estimated at 28.00 bringing the total loss of frames and foundation to an estimated $1084.00.

Estimated value of honeybees in 12 colonies at 120.00 per colony plus the two nukes at 75.00 each, estimated loss of honeybees $1590.00.

To the left is the pile of equipment brought in from the apiary for re-generation.

I sell most of my honey in New York City and on-line at $6.00 per pound. If the colonies had a decent season with a low-ball estimation of 50 pounds of honey per colony the loss would be an estimated $3600.00.

I normally pull frames of brood from each colony for building nukes to over winter for sale the following season at $90.00 each, plus the loss of the two over wintered nukes, bringing an estimated loss of 1260.00. Estimated labor for cleanup and repair 600.00.

The estimated loss of this home invasion is approximately $8,134.00.

What I learn as a the Beekeeper, Farmer and Janitor of this outfit?

This yard was prepared for winter by an employee that was scheduled to leave for the Winter semester of college two weeks after the the work was completed. Apparently he was in a bigger hurry than I thought. The colonies were not prepared properly for the winter. I did not check behind him as he did a fair job during the last season.

Who knew that a mouse could fit through the 7/8″ hole in the front of a box box. I know now. All nukes get 1/2″ x 1/2″ screen stapled to the entrance from now on. I should have known better as I always staple 1/2 x 1/2 wire over the 3/4 inch top entrances.

The answer to the question ‘WHO ARE YOU”? Its me, I’m guilty. This was my fault and my fault alone. I learned that I will never go into winter again without checking my apiaries to see that my livestock and investments were properly prepared for the winter. In closing, I hope that the processing of the crime scene will be of some benefit to you.

Please feel free to send us photos and documentation from experiences from your apiaries and colonies, good or bad, This blog is a teaching blog. Send us intel to pass on.

One last thing, be on the look out (BOLO) for the escaped suspect. This suspect is to be considered armed and dangerous.