Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: flyboy on August 13, 2015, 05:11:23 PM

Title: Why do bees beard?
Post by: flyboy on August 13, 2015, 05:11:23 PM
I notice that two of my hives have bees bearding on the face regularly.
Title: Re: Why do bees beard?
Post by: biggraham610 on August 13, 2015, 05:18:04 PM
Humidity, heat, drying honey, space. Its natural. Kind of cool huh. G
Title: Re: Why do bees beard?
Post by: Dallasbeek on August 13, 2015, 11:19:12 PM
Don't forget that sometimes it's a sign of an impending swarm.  I don't know how to tell when that's the case, though.
Title: Re: Why do bees beard?
Post by: Michael Bush on August 14, 2015, 09:00:54 AM
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesfaqs.htm#bearding

Any hive that isn't bearding in hot weather is probably a weak hive.  I would not take it as a sign of an impending swarm.  But the same circumstances, other than the heat, that lead to bearding might be a sing of some of the circumstances that lead to a swarm.  If one hive is bearding and the others are not, you might want to see if they need a super...