Orientation queston (I think)

jmblakeney · May 14, 2011, 04:59:23 PM

I had done an inspection earlier today. It was rainy this morning and had cleared to a nice blue sky. Toward the end of the inspection I started hearing thunder off in the distance, I looked up and saw that the sky wasn't so blue any more. I finished up and closed the hive and went in to eat lunch. I came out a little bit later and saw what appears to be several bees doing orientation flights. (Approximately 30-50) After about 15min or so they kinda calmed down and my other hive right beside them is starting to pick up the activity at the entrance just like its neighbor did previously.
This video is of the second hive doing the activity stated above.

If this link shows a red x try clicking it anyway, it worked for me.

Do they orientate all at once? Is it like a community event or do they orientate as they age? I believe its the later.

Or am I way off and they are doing something else I am unfamiliar with?

Thanks for any input,

James

AR Beekeeper · May 14, 2011, 05:46:59 PM

The young bees make orientation around 14 days of age when they start to change from nurse bees to duties outside of the hive.

jmblakeney · May 14, 2011, 07:05:55 PM

AR,
Thats is what i have always read. But, why the sudden rush of activity as shown? Several (30-50) all of a sudden come out for 15 minutes or so and do orientation flights and then return to normal? If thats what they are doing.

James

forrestcav · May 14, 2011, 10:07:18 PM

rain made them want to go potty? ;)

redhat · May 14, 2011, 10:27:47 PM

I see the same kind of activity at my hive almost every afternoon between 2:30 and 3:00

jmblakeney · May 14, 2011, 10:30:59 PM

Quote from: forrestcav on May 14, 2011, 10:07:18 PM
rain made them want to go potty? ;)

I though that may be the case at first but it wasn't raining all morning, just spotty showers throughout the a.m.

James

Martin · May 15, 2011, 09:52:59 PM

MY BEES SEEM TO FLY HEAVILY AT THE ENTRANCE EVERYDAY BETWEEN 3:30 - 4:00 . SINCE IT HAS WARMED I REMOVED THE SCREEN BOTTOM COVER AND NOW A LOT OF THOSE BEES SEEM TO BE GOING UNDER THE HIVE POSSIBLY TO OFF-LOAD INSTEAD OF WAITING THEIR TURN TO ENTER THE HIVE

Shanevrr · May 15, 2011, 10:11:48 PM

Quote from: MARTIN on May 15, 2011, 09:52:59 PM
SINCE IT HAS WARMED I REMOVED THE SCREEN BOTTOM COVER

I wouldnt do that, they will have a hard time defending hive

VolunteerK9 · May 16, 2011, 09:28:17 AM

Quote from: Shanevrr on May 15, 2011, 10:11:48 PM
Quote from: MARTIN on May 15, 2011, 09:52:59 PM
SINCE IT HAS WARMED I REMOVED THE SCREEN BOTTOM COVER

I wouldnt do that, they will have a hard time defending hive

How so?

forrestcav · May 16, 2011, 11:08:19 AM

that's my question. Opening the bottom screen doesn't change the size of the front entrance, only allows more air. I do seem to have a few that hang out under there too. When I first installed them, Ihad a lot of them under there. I just figured they had to learn where the proper entrance was.

caticind · May 16, 2011, 01:24:06 PM

My long hives are screened along the whole bottom (in NC so I never have to close them up), and about half the returning foragers (those with little to no pollen) skip going to the entrance at all. I've watched and they hang on the bottom of the screen, stick their tongues through and transfer the nectar to storage bees on the inside of the hive. Then they take right off again on another trip.

I don't know if it saves them much time, but it definitely reduces the traffic jam at the entrance during a flow.