Any one know why my bees are doing this?

Started by jojohoneybee, July 17, 2010, 10:43:49 PM

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jojohoneybee

The bees are clustering at the door.  They have done this since I caught the swarm and housed it 2 months ago.  As their numbers are increasing it looks more dramatic but they are not swarming.  (hive is untreated, they walk back and forth as if cleaning it.  These bees do not appear to forage)

Thanks
 


buzzbee

It sounds like classic washboarding.It's quite common.Clustering at the entrance can be bees fanning to cool the hive or guard bees.
If they dissipate in the evening,propping the outer cover up a half inch or so at front or rear may help them to cool the hive better.

CountryBee

Buzzbee is right, they are too hot.  Mine use to do that, especially in the summer.  Now they do not, Michael Bush taught me to use top entrances.  Mine do not have a ventalation problem anymore.  Good luck and have a great day! :)

Jim134

Hope this can help you to

http://www.massbee.org/


     BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)
"Tell me and I'll forget,show me and I may  remember,involve me and I'll understand"
        Chinese Proverb

"The farmer is the only man in our economy who buys everything at retail, sells everything at wholesale, and pays the freight both ways."
John F. Kennedy
Franklin County Beekeepers Association MA. http://www.franklinmabeekeepers.org/

beekeeper1756

I was sitting by my hives yesterday.  I was watching one hive and as I glanced at another next to me, I saw a few bees doing the "washboard" dance.  Seen it on Youtube, so I recognized it immediately.  Only one or two bees but they were just busy little things keeping the hive clean.  Great to watch.  Wish I could have seen it on a larger scale.