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Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: jojohoneybee on July 17, 2010, 10:43:49 PM

Title: Any one know why my bees are doing this?
Post by: jojohoneybee on July 17, 2010, 10:43:49 PM
The bees are clustering at the door.  They have done this since I caught the swarm and housed it 2 months ago.  As their numbers are increasing it looks more dramatic but they are not swarming.  (hive is untreated, they walk back and forth as if cleaning it.  These bees do not appear to forage)

Thanks
 

Title: Re: Any one know why my bees are doing this?
Post by: buzzbee on July 17, 2010, 10:49:21 PM
It sounds like classic washboarding.It's quite common.Clustering at the entrance can be bees fanning to cool the hive or guard bees.
If they dissipate in the evening,propping the outer cover up a half inch or so at front or rear may help them to cool the hive better.
Title: Re: Any one know why my bees are doing this?
Post by: CountryBee on July 18, 2010, 08:31:10 AM
Buzzbee is right, they are too hot.  Mine use to do that, especially in the summer.  Now they do not, Michael Bush taught me to use top entrances.  Mine do not have a ventalation problem anymore.  Good luck and have a great day! :)
Title: Re: Any one know why my bees are doing this?
Post by: Jim134 on July 18, 2010, 09:40:50 AM
Hope this can help you to

http://www.massbee.org/ (http://www.massbee.org/)


     BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)
Title: Re: Any one know why my bees are doing this?
Post by: beekeeper1756 on July 18, 2010, 09:07:48 PM
I was sitting by my hives yesterday.  I was watching one hive and as I glanced at another next to me, I saw a few bees doing the "washboard" dance.  Seen it on Youtube, so I recognized it immediately.  Only one or two bees but they were just busy little things keeping the hive clean.  Great to watch.  Wish I could have seen it on a larger scale.
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