Bees clustered under the screened bottom board

[KeyLargoBees]

Was noticing a lot of activity under the hive so got down to take a look. and saw this cluster under the screen.

This is a new package and things seem to be going well with good comb formation a laying queen and foragers just starting to bring in pollen for the new brood........bees seem to be festooning under the screened bottom board in a cone about 3 inches long slightly off center. its not a huge cluster but a little concerning since this my first hive so not sure what is and isn't normal ;-) Saw some references to this being temperature related with the bees trying to stop drafts for brood....but this is a brand new hive and no reason for the queen to lay low and temps here are in the mid 80's with nighttime lows in the upper 70's with little or no breeze so not sure how that could be

Could this be the result of a leaking hive top feeder dripping down the center of the frames? Hive is on a paver pad and I don't ,and haven't, seen any sugar water on the ground so if its a leak it is a minor one.... or the bees are cleaning it up before it gets to the ground.
In any event I am interested in any responses you all might have.[attachment=0][/attachment]

[Kathyp]

maybe some of the new foragers got a bit confused coming back to the hive.

you can take a bit of stiff paper or thin plastic and scrape them off onto something then dump them in front of the hive entrance.  they are not always as smart as we think.

as long as you have not noticed any robbing, that's my guess and cure   

[KeyLargoBees]

I have seen a few foreign drones driven off but no fights on the landing board that would indicate robbing....the hive is so new they don't have a new hatch of workers yet its only been in place a few weeks and don't think the first batch of new brood has hatched out yet. I will try removing them with your suggested scrape and dump and we will see how it goes :-)

[Dallasbeek]

I've seen bees going under the hive to the SBB, also.  I've thought maybe foragers are passing nectar to house bees through the screen.  Just another possibility.

[deknow]

With only a single layer of screen, the bees think they are inside the hive. 

[BeeMaster2]

If you do not have some way of keeping the bees away from this area they will continue to do that. It usually starts when the bees are bearding. The bees are out side of the hive looking for something to do and they end up underneath and get confused. The SBB allows them to pass nectar back and forth but they cannot get in.
I have oil trays, now usually dry unless I have a SHB problem, and I have them designed so that the bees cannot get in them. If there is a thin slot, as small as 1/8"' sometimes even less, between the boards, they will find there way into this area. Especially when they are bearding.
Jim

[Beewildered61]

 I had mine do that once, but it was overcrowded and I didn't realize it, probably not your problem. I had captured a swarm that was on the ground, they just marched right into the deep. Me not realizing how many there were, because I didn't want to disturb the new swarm, only had the one deep on. They kept making a ball underneath, half the size of a football...I thought they were confused and kept taking my bee brush and brushing them off...They stayed in the hive exactly one month to the day and swarmed, then I realized they were too crowded....I still have the hive of bees that were left, really good bees!

[KeyLargoBees]

I did the scrape and dump method recommended by Kathy P this morning and got I would say 90% of them back into the hive top feedar area... Only time will tell if they stay there or cluster underneath again :-)

[KeyLargoBees]

No Joy.....Bees re-clustered on bottom under screen after coming down through the hive. Not the sharpest tools in the shed it would seem. I have a full hive inspection today and will check to see if there might be any other reason for this activity.....and will be swapping out the existing bottom board for a different one with a varoa tray under the screen so it should keep them from the screen.....will dump the less than brilliant "outside dwellers" onto the top of the frames once the bottoms are swapped and call it a day in hopes they will finally figure things out. Will see about modifying this other bottom board with a second layer of screen to prevent nurse bees feeding outsiders and hopefully the next time I use  this bottom board the bees will be smart enough to be IN the hive and not under it.

[AR Beekeeper]

Keep watch for a virgin queen in the cluster below the screen.

[Michael Bush]

With an open SBB and easy access to it (high off the ground) the foragers often hand off their nectar through it.

[drjeseuss]

I wouldn't be too concerned about this.  If they are your bees passing nectar through a non-congested area to the bees inside, good for them for finding a faster/easier way to get the job done...  if robbers, they are stuck outside due to the screen...  also good.  if crowded, they found a dry place near friends to hang out, still good.  I reduced the occurance by the use of slatted racks.  I see little activity under the SBB once they are in place.

[KeyLargoBees]

Thanks Michael...I did end up swapping out the SBB and also opening up the reducer to medium and they seem to be much happier now and traffic in and out is less congested.