I knew my hive was dead after all the snow we got but haven't gotten a chance to open it until this last weekend. Prior to opening it I suspected it was a varroa infestation since I battled to rid the hive of the mites prior to prepping it for winter. When I opened the hive this weekend I was led to believe that there may have been another cause of death. I did a little research and think I have it narrowed down to small hive beetles but I would like (if people are so kind) a second opinion.
There are two main things that lead me to the hive beetle. 1-maggots or worms observed in a couple location in the comb and 2- each frame on the bottom had rotten bees and comb on it. This rotten comb was all in a line, the bottom of the box toward the front of the entrence (you can see in the attached photos). I have read that small hive beetles can leave something behind in their footprints that causes the honey to ferment; all of this "rotten comb" is in a pattern that looks like the beetle left the cluster of bees and traveled along the bottom of the hive leaving a trail of fermented honey. The most concentrated "rotten comb" is closest to where the cluster was going into winter. I had the hive prepped for winter pretty well but I suppose this could have been excess moisture.
I should add that all the bees died. There was probably 4-5 frames of honey left when I opened it up, some adjacent to where the queen, brood and the rest of the bees were prior to winter. Some bees were found dead with their heads sticking in a cell which I have read is a sign of starvation but I don't think that was the case since there was plenty of honey in the hive and there was still some honey adjacent to the brood and cluster of bees going into winter.
Any leads would be useful for a new beekeeper. Thanks. I've attached photos via dropbox since it seems you can't post photos on the forum.
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/xg8ffkh1ka1qezy/AACG7g8cEOVn_TiYty2W5VXTa?dl=0
