Strange bee behavior

[bzzzybee]

This afternoon as we were working in the yard, Barbara and I noticed the bees behaving in a rather unusual fashion! Both hives had a significant amount of activity in front of the entrances...bees clouding around and spiraling. The flight patterns were similar to the orientation flights we saw when we first got the hives, but there were many, many, many more bees. This lasted for maybe half an hour, and then the flight patterns returned to the normal takeoff/landing and the typical bee density.

Our first thought was either swarming, or a mass emergence. However when we checked them later in the afternoon, the population seemed to be about the same as before. So neither one of our hypotheses make sense. I did notice several dead bees on the top bar of one of the hives. Is it possible they were defending from robbers?

Any insight would be appreciated!

-bzzzy

[MBrowne]

It does sound like robbing.

[Michael Bush]

Robbing would continue until dark.

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesrobbing.htm

Sounds like orientation of young bees.

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesfaqs.htm#orientation

[JP]

Not that my .02 matters much after M.B. has chimed in but I was thinking orientation flights as well. Remember, your colony is growing and those queens are a laying, you will see increases in numbers, even on orientating flights.


...JP

[Barbara]

We thought that orientation flights may be the reason because of all the capped brood we had seen on our previous inspection.  But as newbees we wanted to check with the experts.  Thanks for your help!

[Cindi]

Barbara.  When bees become close to the age that they will assume the dangerous duties of foragers, like in a couple of days, they will en masse perform their orientation flights.  There can be hundreds and hundreds of bees that come out of the colony, floating around facing their home, looking and looking and looking.  These orientation flights last a few minutes and can occur a couple of times a day.  It can seem like an awful lot of bees, and yes it is.  Hundreds of bees, all congregated in the air infront of their home, what a beautiful sight. You know yourself that in a couple of days, weather dependent, that these orientation pefrorming bees will all be heading out to the field, to gather that beautiful nectar, pollen, propolis and water that is their entire agenda in life.  They need to be totally familiar with what their home and surroundings look like to return to this haven in safety.  The orientation flights are a most glorious sight to behold, it means continuance of the species.  Have that great and most wonderful day as yours, love our life. Cindi

[Michael Bush]

>Not that my 2¢ matters much after M.B. has chimed in...

Everyone's 2¢ matters.  Thanks for sharing yours.

[JP]

>Not that my 2¢ matters much after M.B. has chimed in...

Everyone's 2¢ matters.  Thanks for sharing yours.

Thanks, Michael, maybe next time I'll share .03. ;)


...JP

[Michael Bush]

>maybe next time I'll share .03

Even better.

[rast]

 Mine get really thick (and noisey) in the afternoons when the drones decide to take off.

[2-Wheeler]

I noticed that same behavior last year, the day before the hive swarmed! Practice run, I'd say...