Thought it was fighting?

rookie2531 · September 21, 2014, 07:17:57 PM

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?

rwlaw · September 21, 2014, 08:43:18 PM

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.

BeeMaster2 · September 21, 2014, 10:06:55 PM

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

jayj200 · September 22, 2014, 10:10:14 AM

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

Candiebears · September 22, 2014, 05:40:08 PM

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.

Vance G · 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.

biggraham610 · 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:

Vance G · September 23, 2014, 03:32:56 PM

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: