I noticed a few times what looked like fighting. 3 or 4 bees surrounding 1 and jerking away at it. Looked like they were tugging on legs, wings. The one getting what I thought was being attacked just stood still. After it was over the bee just walks away, no harm seemed to happen. I see this outside the hive by the entrance.
What is this behavior? Grooming?
It's called. Intruder alert! Opps, sorry sis, hope we didn't rough you up too bad. They do it all the time, especially this time of the year.
Rookie,
I see 1 on1 bees in front of my hives, all the time. On bee stands there and the other one grooms it checking it over. Occasionally I see 2 or 3 on 1.
Did the bee under attack land there or did it come out of the hive.
Hygienic bees will not only clean each other, they will also remove a bee that is sick. My bees use my pool as their trash dump. I have watched them carry bees off the front of the hive and dump them in the pool. The bees they dump had DWV.
Jim
I have watched what looks to me like one dressing down one. face to face then all around a couple a times then it is over. one usually walks away the other sometimes flies off
I did also read bees 'dance' to tell others where to fly. (I'm new) Don't know if that's it.. but just figured I'd throw it out there.
The dancing happens internally on the frames to draw a crowd and give directions. You will see it Candie. As far as robbing, a week ago there was a huge gaggle of bees in front of one of my too late splits and I rushed over fearing the worst. What it was, was a huge orientation flight taking place. A mass of bees out for their first flight and I just caught it. Now if I can get them fed up enough to support all those mouths!
Grooming bees are a really good thing. My queen supplier breeds from hives where 80% of the vorroa on the stickie boards are missing legs or have chunks gone out of their carapace.
Quote from: Vance G on September 22, 2014, 05:50:57 PM
The dancing happens internally on the frames to draw a crowd and give directions. You will see it Candie. As far as robbing, a week ago there was a huge gaggle of bees in front of one of my too late splits and I rushed over fearing the worst. What it was, was a huge orientation flight taking place. A mass of bees out for their first flight and I just caught it. Now if I can get them fed up enough to support all those mouths!
Grooming bees are a really good thing. My queen supplier breeds from hives where 80% of the vorroa on the stickie boards are missing legs or have chunks gone out of their carapace.
Who is your breeder if you dont mind me asking Vance? G :chop:
Bill Carpenter in Freezeproof Florida. If you need more to find him, I will dig out a phone number.
Quote from: biggraham610 on September 23, 2014, 02:43:57 PM
Quote from: Vance G on September 22, 2014, 05:50:57 PM
The dancing happens internally on the frames to draw a crowd and give directions. You will see it Candie. As far as robbing, a week ago there was a huge gaggle of bees in front of one of my too late splits and I rushed over fearing the worst. What it was, was a huge orientation flight taking place. A mass of bees out for their first flight and I just caught it. Now if I can get them fed up enough to support all those mouths!
Grooming bees are a really good thing. My queen supplier breeds from hives where 80% of the vorroa on the stickie boards are missing legs or have chunks gone out of their carapace.
Who is your breeder if you dont mind me asking Vance? G :chop: