Dead Hive-What to do

With the warm weather, beekeepers are out looking at their colonies. So you find a dead colony, what do you do?
 If the colony died of mites or a virus from the mites, the bees are dead and so are the mites. Take the hive apart down to the bottom board. Have a cardboard box with you. Brush any dead bees and debris into the box with a bee brush. Lightly brush off any bees off the frames. Don't dump the bees in the beeyard. The dead bees contain nitrogen and are very good fertilizer. The dead bees will spur grass to grow in the beeyard and you will be mowing the grass more.

This colony has died with brood in the colony. Photo by C. Mladek

If there are dead bees in the cells do not try to remove them. If there is dead brood in the frames, do not try to remove them. Close up the hive, cork all holes and close off all entrances. Make them bee tight.
 The hive will be safe to use for bees again. Re-use all the frames and honey.