Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => HONEYBEE REMOVAL => Topic started by: Mike Tuggle on July 01, 2011, 10:11:33 PM

Title: Strange 'posturing' by wild bees...
Post by: Mike Tuggle on July 01, 2011, 10:11:33 PM
 :? Just scoping out a tree for a trapout -- folks have serious allergies -- and I've noticed strange posturing around the two entrances.
(http://filelibrary.myaasite.com/Content/0/499/35240176.jpg)

There weren't that many there today but you can see how they were lined up, not seriously fanning but just sitting there in rows.  (There were actual rings of rows yesterday.)  It wasn't that hot so I don't thing they are trying to enhance the air-flow for cooling.

Does anyone have an idea about what's going on?

Thanks...
Title: Re: Strange 'posturing' by wild bees...
Post by: AllenF on July 01, 2011, 10:35:37 PM
They are washboarding.  You should look it up on youtube.   
Title: Re: Strange 'posturing' by wild bees...
Post by: Mike Tuggle on July 01, 2011, 11:00:19 PM
No, not "wash boarding."  They are not moving at all at least not as significantly as shown in the videos -- they're literally just sitting there in circles.
Title: Re: Strange 'posturing' by wild bees...
Post by: greenbtree on July 02, 2011, 02:25:38 PM
Thinking about "washboarding"?  Such a big hive that they have a LOT of guards and some need to be outside?

JC