Sounds from the Hive

DayValleyDahlias · May 23, 2007, 12:09:07 PM

Just curious...the hive sound is nice...loud hummmm...24/7 ( I go out at night to sit next to the hive and listen and look at their front porch to spy on them )...

Now, I have read various posts about varying buzz sounds from the hive, and I am curious to know what you all have experienced.

Hive sound changes due to:_______________.

Understudy · May 23, 2007, 12:21:14 PM

loss of queen
robbing
swarm

Sincerely,
Brendhan

DayValleyDahlias · May 23, 2007, 01:45:55 PM

So...what would be the sound of a content queenright hive...as opposed to one that is queenless, or ready to swarm etc....

Mici · May 23, 2007, 01:50:43 PM

robbing would emmit LOTS of sound, a noisy buzzing (haven't heard it, but so they say) although, there could be a silent robbing going on and even the experienced eyes usually can't see it.
swarming would be..almost no buzz at all, bees are resting and preparing for the travel.
queenright hive, listen very closely and knock on the side, if they humm loudly and settle very quickly, they're queenright (or at least feel like) if the buzz continues...

KONASDAD · May 23, 2007, 03:35:12 PM

Even in winter, when I put my ear up to the side of a hive, there's a low hummmm. The hum changes a lot if they are angered, lose queen or other event. It is noticeably different in pitch, than the harmoniuos hum of contentment. Sometimes when working a hive, you can hear the hum increase in pitch and volume, as if they are getting angry. This usually coincides w/ bees hitting my veil face screen. I spray w/ sugar and HBH and the hum diminishes immediately. Its so immediate you notice it right away.

DayValleyDahlias · May 23, 2007, 06:15:30 PM

It is really pretty amazing..I went out last night around 10pm and put my ear up to side and could hear them humming nicely I could also hear like a scratchy clicky noise...then I peek at their front door, and could see a group of them hanging out...very cute..

I am not sure I want to knock at their door though...hhhmmm

pdmattox · May 23, 2007, 07:19:06 PM

Quote from: DayValleyDahlias on May 23, 2007, 06:15:30 PM
It is really pretty amazing..I went out last night around 10pm and put my ear up to side and could hear them humming nicely I could also hear like a scratchy clicky noise...then I peek at their front door, and could see a group of them hanging out...very cute..

I am not sure I want to knock at their door though...hhhmmm

Try blowing on them, they start up a nice buzzing sound then too.

DayValleyDahlias · May 23, 2007, 07:35:59 PM

Hey, I may be a newbee, but I learn fast...no brushing no blowing...

Mici · May 23, 2007, 07:40:49 PM

oh and make sure you had a cup of coffe before blowing :evil:, de-caff doesn't count!

to knock onto the side of the hive in the evening shouldn't upset them too much, all you'll hear will be_
zzzzz (knock) BZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz, not a big deal.

DayValleyDahlias · May 23, 2007, 08:38:30 PM

[quote to knock onto the side of the hive in the evening shouldn't upset them too much, all you'll hear will be_
zzzzz (knock) BZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz, not a big deal.
[/quote]

I wasn't sure if you were joking or not... :-D

Understudy · May 23, 2007, 09:42:10 PM

Eat some bananas and drink some coffee, then blow on the bees. :evil:

Sincerely,
Brendhan

DayValleyDahlias · May 23, 2007, 10:12:52 PM

Bees don't like coffee? I sit and watch them and drink coffee...no bananas though...

You's guys are naughty :shock:

Zoot · May 24, 2007, 12:29:08 AM

The hum of a queenright hive also seems to increase when they are curing honey. most noticable at night. Also, at the moment, I can feel an amazingly strong, warm draft blowing out the entrance. Nice odor too.

Cindi · May 24, 2007, 01:41:03 AM

Sharon, the sound of my hives is very nice, kind of a very light humming sound, if I blow on them gently to move them, they make a much louder hum. That kind of scratchy sound that you have been hearing. I have heard that too and wonder what on earth it would be. It is very noticeable. The only conce[t that I could even begin to think it may be is that they are removing wax capping with their mandibles. I cannot think of any other action that may make that noise. I asked my instructor once, because it was such a curious sound, but I think that this question got lost amongst the myriad of other questions that I had asked him. You may get input from other forum members about the sound. Have a wonderful day, great life, great health. Cindi

DayValleyDahlias · May 24, 2007, 02:22:28 AM

Funny scratchy sounds..and yes such an aroma! HAHAHAHA..I love it!

Cindi · May 24, 2007, 10:03:59 AM

I also feel blessed that I can have my hives in close enough proximity to my home that I can visit any time, listen and smell them. I spend most of my life outside, there I listen, think, smell things, and listen some more. I love that peace and solitude that comes from sounds that are pleasing to the ear, and the bees are certainly ranking in the top 10. I love too how I can be a few good feet from the hives and can breathe in the aroma from the hives. The main chemical that we smell from the hive is called geraniol (found in oil-of-rose and in nature), it is the depictive "scent of the hive".

Some trivia -- this is what Wikipedia has to say about geraniol:

Geraniol, also called rhodinol, is a monoterpenoid and an alcohol. It is the primary part of oil-of-rose and palmarosa oil. It also occurs in small quantities in geranium, lemon, citronella, and many other essential oils. It appears as a clear to pale-yellow oil which is insoluble in water, but soluble in most common organic solvents. It has a rose-like odor, for which it is commonly used in perfumes. It is used in flavors such as peach, raspberry, grapefruit, red apple, plum, lime, orange, lemon, watermelon, pineapple and blueberry.

An alternate application has been found in the use of insect repellents or deterrants. Though it may repel mosquitoes, flies, lice, cockroaches, ants, and ticks, it is also produced by the scent glands of honey bees to help them mark nectar-bearing flowers and locate the entrances to their hives. Extensive testing by Dr. Jerry Butler at the University of Florida has shown geraniol to be one of nature's most effective insect repellents.[citation needed]

In a 1994 report released by five top cigarette companies, geraniol is listed as one of the 599 additives to cigarettes, to improve their flavor.[1] Geraniol and other flavor compounds are found naturally in well aged tobacco.

In acidic solutions, geraniol is converted to the cyclic terpene alpha-terpineol.

Just a little bit of triva for those who like to learn. Have a wonderful day, great life, great health. Cindi

DayValleyDahlias · May 24, 2007, 11:16:08 AM

Cindi,

That is So fascinating...interesting that it has similar properties to citronella, which we know keeps naughty bugs away...probably helps keep nasties away from the hive as well...maybe that it why rubbing lemon balm on ones hands help keeps bees calm when working with them (I have lots of lemon balm )...

Thanks for that most interesting data!

Cindi · May 25, 2007, 10:38:09 AM

Sharon, I could not believe the size of my lemonbalms that I moved this spring, and divided them into a few clumps to give away as well. The rootball was probably three times as big as the foliage itself. I was amazed, no wonder it is do drought resistant (but at the same time revels in the bog). I am going to do some experiments with the lemonbalm this year, how to make something that I can shove my hands into when I go to work the bees. I have also heard that if you take a few branches of the lemonbalm and place it on the hive or rub the hive with the leafy branches, it calms the bees. Isn't that just so cool.

I have purchased a little vile of lemongrass oil (same idea) and I am going to smear a little on the top frames of the swarm box that I am setting up out the back. There was talk on our forum about putting this oil on the frametops as swarm lure. So, it shall be. Have a wonderful day, great life and great health. Cindi