Hi everyone,
Can you folks take a look at this and tell me if you think this is normal. I started these bees this year from a 3 pound pack. This hive is doing very well and I just added a super to it on Sunday. I haven't seen them gather as much as they have today. The temp was about 85 when I took this although they are in a shaded area.
http://www.midstatebeekeepers.com/hive_photos/bees_on_porch.JPG
TIA,
Scott
Everything looks fine to me. How long ago did you install the package? My bees usually have a beard hanging off the landing board every night. Some nights it gets close to 6 inches long! These bees look evenly spaced. Are they moving back and forth in large waves? They may be washboarding. Then again, they may just be "hanging out".
Mine do the same thing - hives installed on April 16. I couldn't find washboarding in any of my bee books and then found it on the Internet - here's a picture of my bees "washboarding" and a quote from the article I found:
http://beekeeperlinda.blogspot.com/2006/05/washboard-dance-on-monday-night.html
Hope that helps explain the dance.
Linda T in Atlanta :)
Looks OK to me. Mine cluster alot more on the outside.
Quote from: rsderrickHi everyone,
Can you folks take a look at this and tell me if you think this is normal. I started these bees this year from a 3 pound pack. This hive is doing very well and I just added a super to it on Sunday. I haven't seen them gather as much as they have today. The temp was about 85 when I took this although they are in a shaded area.
http://www.midstatebeekeepers.com/hive_photos/bees_on_porch.JPG
TIA,
Scott
Hi, i'm in saluda county. could it be that brown color is making your hive too hot? I know their in shade, but that will cause it's own problem (small hive beetle will take you over soon) white hive, in full sun.
My hives are white and two are in the shade. I've only once found a larva (just last week, and only 1; no slimed comb) and while the levels of adult SHB are higher, I've found that my bees can deal with them without a problem. Besides, with plastic foundation it really isn't a big issue. If a comb is infested, just remove it, boil them off and place it back in.
I just helped to move many, many hives from shade to sun today. Almost every hive in the shade was eat up with hive beetles. I am too tired to post pics tonight but will have some up tomorrow.
WHITE HIVES + FULL SUN = Less SHB
I am 100% convinced now!
Up in the Pacific Northwest we don't have the SHB that I'm aware of, I've never had a case of it. But as to color the lighter or whiter the better is the rule I was taught so many years ago. A lot of commercial beeks in are area use alumium because it's cheap and a little goes a long way.
I have taken to painting my yellow with green tops, bottoms, racks, and shims. I call them my honey tractors because they look like John Deeres.
Honey tractor near the garden and a Chicken tractor in the back yard.
E I E I O.
I looked your hive color. When sun is shining in summer you hive surface is really hot and it makes hive difficult to keep their 32C temperature.
Much of work will be consumed to carry cooling water to hive.
.
Quote from: rsderrick. I haven't seen them gather as much as they have today.
I may see bees on wall in position where they ventilate water from nectar.
They burst nectar between jaws and let water evaporate. When nectar day is good, some bees come out to do that.
The reason I painted the hives brown is because I wanted to camouflauge them. I have kids in my neighborhood that don't want messing with them. They are aware of them but I didn't want any targets. I have a canopy of poplar and oak that is about 70 feet high. They all sit on hard red clay and quartz rock. I haven't had any problems with SHB with the acception of the two hives I bought from a polinator.
I appreciate the thought on the color of the hives. If I see that I start having problems with temp then I will change that. I guess I could put a thermometer in the hive to check it.
Scott
Pics on hive beetle dammage
http://hh-farms.com/photos/bees/052306/