bee cluster in front of the hive; indication of disease ?

[mushmushi]

Hi.

This is my hive (see pictures appended).

The bees are hanging out in front for an unknown reason. Most of my beehives do not show this behavior.
Every day, there are around 10 dead bees in front of the hive.

I have treated with formic acid in April.

When I inspected the hives, I threw the bees that were in front and they were able to fly.

Could they just be guardian bees ? Or might I have some disease ?
This is coming from a hive that was able to draw comb in a new deep super with foundation only and fill it with honey in 10 days.

Thanks



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[riverrat]

couldnt see the pic but bees hanging out on the front of the hive is not uncommon especially in strong colonies a few dead bees out front of the hive is common and shows good hygenic behavior

[sarafina]

My bees hang out on the front porch when it it hot and one hive has a lot more bees hanging out than the other, but it is a stronger hive and has more bees.

[Grandpa Jim]

Looks like a crew just cleaning the front porch, they do that.  There are times, with mine, when the whole landing board is covered with bees sort of chewing and cleaning the area.  If they are just standing off to the side, I would say they are on smoke break :-D or gossiping about the hive next door....their queen is having some issues, but you know, they have really cute drones :roll:.

[Kathyp]

did you have an entrance reducer on earlier with the opening at that end? 

looks normal to me.

[riverrat]

after looking at the picture it looks like washboarding or hanging out cleaning the front porch.

[beek4018]

It's the bee version of "front porch sitting".  They may be cooling off and/or guard bees.  You'll probably see more of that the hotter it gets.

[sarafina]

Now down South.... THIS is called "hanging out on the front porch"!    :-D





And yet, my other hive looks like this:



But that is normal for both hives.

[mushmushi]

Thanks for the replies.

I did not have an entrance reducer (up until this spring).

I guess they like the corner to hang out then (-:

[Michael Bush]

You have virtually no bees on the landing board.  I don't know what you mean.  In the summer it will be covered by the ventilation bees and on summer nights the whole front of the hive may be covered in bearding bees...  you need to get used to the idea...

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesfaqs.htm#washboarding
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesfaqs.htm#bearding

Although this is a swarm being hived, sometimes a hive on a summer night looks more like this:
http://www.bushfarms.com/images/SwarmBeingHived.JPG