In this episode of Bee Science with Dewey, Dewey Caron introduces the concept of a colony necropsy—the careful reading of hive debris to understand what is happening inside a honey bee colony without opening the hive. By examining wax particles, pollen fragments, brood remains, mite debris, and other material on the hive floor, beekeepers can diagnose colony health, seasonal progress, and potential stressors with minimal disturbance.
Dewey explains how debris patterns change through the year, what normal versus concerning signs look like, and how this simple observational practice can guide smarter management decisions. From overwinter survival clues to early warning signals of brood disease or Varroa pressure, colony necropsy offers a low-cost, low-impact tool available to every beekeeper.
This episode reinforces a central theme of the series: good beekeeping begins with careful observation. By learning to interpret what bees leave behind, beekeepers gain insight that supports healthier colonies and more confident seasonal management.
Links and references mentioned in this episode:
Caron, D.M. 2018 Dead Colony Forensics. Bee Culture
Apiary Inspectors of America: https://apiaryinspectors.org/US-beekeeping-survey
Pacific Northwest Honey Bee Survey: https://pnwhoneybeesurvey.com
Underwood, R and D. M. van Englesdorf. 2007. Colony Collapse Disorder: Have We Seen This Before? American Bee Journal.
Beekeeping Today Podcast, Episode 372 with Ray Baxter, "Bottom Up Beekeeping": https://beekeepingtodaypodcast.com/372-bottom-up-beekeeping
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In this episode of Bee Science with Dewey, Dewey Caron introduces the concept of a colony necropsy—the careful reading of hive debris to understand what is happening inside a honey bee colony without opening the hive. By examining wax particles, pollen fragments, brood remains, mite debris, and other material on the hive floor, beekeepers can diagnose colony health, seasonal progress, and potential stressors with minimal disturbance.