When conducting a post-mortem inspection of the bottom board, your primary focus must be identifying evidence of external intrusion and pest infestation. Specifically, you should inspect for signs of robbing by other bees, the presence of mouse nests or damage, and indicators of small hive beetle infestations.
The bottom board acts as the "crime scene" record of the hive, collecting debris that reveals whether the colony collapsed due to external predation, unchecked pest infestation, or parasitic load.
Diagnosing External Threats and Intruders
The bottom board is often the first place debris settles, making it the most reliable indicator of what entered the hive before the colony collapsed.
Identifying Rodent Intrusion
Mice look for warmth and shelter in weakened or dead colonies during colder months.
Inspect the bottom board for piles of nesting material, such as grass, leaves, or shredded paper.
You should also look for chewed frames or structural damage at the entrance, which confirms that a mouse bypassed the entrance reducer.
Recognizing Signs of Robbing
When a colony weakens, it often falls victim to robbing by stronger, opportunistic hives.
Look for ragged, torn wax cappings on the bottom board.
Unlike the clean, round cappings dropped by hatching bees, robbing debris is irregular and often accompanied by dead bees that died fighting at the entrance.
Detecting Small Hive Beetles
Small hive beetles (SHB) are opportunistic pests that can rapidly overtake a weak colony.
Inspect the corners of the bottom board for adult beetles or masses of slimy, fermented debris.
A heavy presence of SHB on the bottom board usually indicates the colony was too weak to police the hive interior effectively.
Assessing Parasitic Load
While external threats are visible to the naked eye, the bottom board is also critical for assessing microscopic threats like Varroa mites.
Utilizing Monitoring Boards
If your hive setup includes a screened bottom board, the inspection is more granular.
Metal monitoring boards are essential tools inserted at the base of the hive to provide a non-permeable surface for data collection.
Interpreting Mite Drop
Inspect the monitoring board for dark, reddish-brown mites.
This count represents the natural mite fall or mortality rates following medication.
High numbers on the board during a post-mortem suggest that parasitic infestation likely weakened the colony, making it susceptible to the secondary threats mentioned above.
Common Pitfalls: Cause vs. Symptom
It is critical to distinguish between the cause of death and the result of death.
Confusing Scavengers with Killers
Finding pests on the bottom board does not always mean they killed the colony.
Many organisms, such as certain beetles or ants, are part of the "cleanup crew" that arrives after the colony has already died.
Misreading Robbing Signs
Do not confuse robbing debris with normal hive activity.
If the hive is completely empty of honey but there are no dead bees on the bottom board, the colony may have absconded (left) rather than died from robbing.
Making the Right Diagnosis for Future Success
Analyzing the bottom board allows you to adjust your management strategy for next season.
- If your primary focus is Pest Exclusion: Install robust entrance reducers and mouse guards earlier in the season if you found nesting materials.
- If your primary focus is Disease Management: Re-evaluate your Varroa treatment schedule if the monitoring board reveals a high mite count.
- If your primary focus is Hive Security: Reduce entrances on weaker hives sooner to prevent robbing if you discover ragged wax cappings.
Your post-mortem inspection is only as valuable as the preventative changes you implement based on your findings.
Summary Table:
| Inspection Category | Key Indicator to Look For | Likely Cause of Failure |
|---|---|---|
| Rodent Intrusion | Nesting material (grass, paper), chewed frames | Lack of entrance guards/mouse guards |
| Robbing Activity | Ragged, irregular wax cappings, dead guard bees | Weak colony defense/External predation |
| Small Hive Beetle | Slimy debris, fermented odors, adult beetles | Inability to police hive/Pest infestation |
| Varroa Mite Load | Reddish-brown mites on monitoring boards | High parasitic load/Ineffective treatment |
| Scavengers | Ants or wax moths (post-death) | Normal decomposition/Secondary symptom |
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