[Gypsi]

I don't think that is AFB. The test for AFB is sticking a toothpick into capped brood and seeing if a brown ropy liquid substance pulls out, like a string on the toothpick. Do the frames have any odor? Those frames are absolutely empty, I'd more suspect mites, bees will abscond to outrun a heavy mite load Some of the cells on the right look white and fuzzy, like maybe moisture built up in the hive and that is fungus? A rough location and climate information would be helpful - if you are in Louisiana, well its been rainy in Texas

 

[Gypsi]

they are probably there to rob. Can you put the honey in a freezer for a while, to catch a swarm you mainly need empty comb. You can freeze everything for 3 days in case of shb or wax moth eggs, larva etc. then put empty comb out with some lemongrass oil for a swarm trap

 

[Gypsi]

I think quite probably they were too small a cluster and froze. Mites can cause the too small cluster. Or if you didn't find many bodies, or some snuggled up between 2 frames, they may have absconded.

 

[Gypsi]

Not that I'm aware of unless the surrounding sugar cane crops are GMO.

sugar beets are GMO, I don't think sugar cane is.