Got a low pressure system sitting over our area that should stay for most of the week. What do bees do with themselves when you've got about a solid week of rain and some wind? I figured they'd just sit in there and eat. Maybe the queen would get some laying on.
Anybody know for sure?
I think they play scrabble. :-D
A few of mine seem to fly between the bouts of more inclement weather. This rain really slows them down though, doesn't it.
If I had an observation hive. (maybe next year) I might be able to tell you for sure.
I saw mine crowded near the entrance like a bunch of kids dying for it to quit so they could go out and play :oops:
-like before video games...
I spent a year watching my bees in my top-bar observation hive. On cold days (about 90% of the time here in the Northwest), they just bunch up into a cluster and stay warm. A few will move about to feed/take cleansing flights.
I checked the ones here at the house after it let up a little yesterday evening. I saw several making quick short flights, probably cleansing. One empty feeder bucket blown off, put it back and and a brick on it.
Looked at another, they were playing poker, not scrabble :-D.
They all said, thank the Lord for the rain, now maybe something will bloom.
If it is cool and or raining and they are crowded and packed in the hive, they will build queen cells and swarm when the weather clears. I saw that a lot this spring.
Steve
I inspected my hives a few (nucs installed 5 weeks ago) days ago, maybe 5 and then we had rain off and on all week, just real gloomy and wet.
I peeked in today to check on their syrup levels and they had built a few more combs (on foundationless frames) since the other day.
It appears mine just took syrup and built combs.
Quote from: Natalie on May 19, 2009, 05:21:53 PM
I think they play scrabble. :-D
I laughed !!! now I have to clean the ginger ale off my keyboard. :oops:
On rainy days my "wise Ladies" bees cluster in the top "Bronx" deep and hold a conference between the 5 families on how to rob, extort and wack the adjacent hive :mrgreen:! lol
-Rodni
Quote from: Rodni73 on May 20, 2009, 12:57:32 PM
On rainy days my "wise Ladies" bees cluster in the top "Bronx" deep and hold a conference between the 5 families on how to rob, extort and wack the adjacent hive :mrgreen:! lol
-Rodni
So you have italians from sicily or palermo to be exact? :-D
Keith
QuoteSo you have italians from sicily or palermo to be exact?
My Italians trade pollen spaghetti recipes and make honey gelato.