Rear Ends in the Air

[Pond Creek Farm]

We just snuck a peak this evening by opening the top cover of the hive. The one I have now has no inner cover, but when I can suit up and do a full check, I will add one.  The bees that were on the top fo the frames, and a few more than rather quickly came out to take a look, stuck their rear ends up in the air.  Is this a defensive response or posture?  I quickly shut the hive back up so as not to upset them any more than necessary.

[Michael Bush]

>Is this a defensive response or posture?

No. They are fanning Nasanov phermone.  The hive was disrupted, so they are sending out a signal to regroup at the hive to make sure everyone finds their way home.

[Stingtarget]

I learn something everytime I read a Michael Bush post.  The swarm I hived yesterday did this on the top bars as I poured them into the hive.  The Nasanov pheromone explains it.

[Angi_H]

My packages I boxed monday night do that every day in the afternoon. To let everyone know where there home is and not the other hives. Although each hive is painted a different color. Tomorrow I get to let the Queen out of her cage. She was in a small cage with no spot for candy. So I just had to leave the cork in and take her out and manuly release her tomorrow evening after the kids go to bed. One hive is on permacomb and one is on PF 120 and PF 100

Angi

[Understudy]

Michael's answer is very professional.

Mine isn't

They are farting, on purpose.
The difference is their farts don't smell like rotten eggs.(Not that mine do either);)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nasonov

If you have a good ol factory sense it will smell like lemon grass oil. But I am not putting my nose next to some bees butt for a scientific confirmation.

Sincerely,
Brendhan