Funny Beehavior

DayValleyDahlias · January 22, 2008, 06:42:12 PM

We had rain all day and most of the night yesterday, the sun is out for a bit and all the bees were just zooming in and out and around the hive...I was in my greenhouse working and I kept hearing bees buzzing. Seems a group of them had gathered atop the roof where I have rolled shade cloth...wonder if they were sipping water? Odd, funny bees.

Understudy · January 22, 2008, 06:59:41 PM

How long did they stay there?

Sincerely,
Brendhan

DayValleyDahlias · January 22, 2008, 09:49:19 PM

The bees were there for as long as I was...prolly 30 minutes or so...around 10 bees...is this bad

Cindi · January 23, 2008, 12:51:04 AM

Annette, bees use massive amounts of water when they are raising brood. Also for cooling down the hive, as well for many things. The water on the greenhouse was probably warm, they much more prefer warm water to cool water any time. That will be noticed many times throughout your beekeeping years, you will see. I think they are gathering warm water for rearing brood. You will hear lots of other comments. Have an awesome day, Cindi

Michael Bush · January 23, 2008, 08:30:17 AM

>they much more prefer warm water to cool water any time

Keep in mind that basically bees are, as individuals, cold blooded. They can't suck up much that is below 50 F or they can't make their wing muscles work anymore. So they always prefer warm syrup or warm water to cold syrup or cold water. In the winter 90 degree syrup will be taken down quickly. 40 degree syrup will be ignored completely.

DayValleyDahlias · January 23, 2008, 10:32:40 AM

OOOHHHH I see...I was wondering why they were the when there was so much water everywhere else...

Cindi · January 23, 2008, 10:54:10 AM

:) :) :) Sharon, see, we are learning each and every day, I learn so much every day, I just can't wait to learn some more and some more, on that quest for knowledge. Awesome day, beautiful life. Cindi

KONASDAD · January 23, 2008, 12:48:45 PM

I see birds do the same. They will drink from warmed puddle, rather than my neighbors koi pond in winter. The reverse in summer. Bees too.

annette · January 23, 2008, 02:51:02 PM

Quote from: Cindi on January 23, 2008, 12:51:04 AM
Annette, bees use massive amounts of water when they are raising brood. Also for cooling down the hive, as well for many things. The water on the greenhouse was probably warm, they much more prefer warm water to cool water any time. That will be noticed many times throughout your beekeeping years, you will see. I think they are gathering warm water for rearing brood. You will hear lots of other comments. Have an awesome day, Cindi

See Cindi, you have got me on your mind even when I do not post anything. He! He!

Bennettoid · January 23, 2008, 03:34:46 PM

Quote from: annette on January 23, 2008, 02:51:02 PM
Quote from: Cindi on January 23, 2008, 12:51:04 AM
Annette, bees use massive amounts of water when they are raising brood. Also for cooling down the hive, as well for many things. The water on the greenhouse was probably warm, they much more prefer warm water to cool water any time. That will be noticed many times throughout your beekeeping years, you will see. I think they are gathering warm water for rearing brood. You will hear lots of other comments. Have an awesome day, Cindi

See Cindi, you have got me on your mind even when I do not post anything. He! He!

You and DayValleyDahlias look so much alike, I get confused sometimes myself.

annette · January 23, 2008, 11:06:47 PM

Oh it is the red color in the avatar that confuses you. But for sure I do not look like Sharon. She is absolutely beautiful from what I can see in her photos.

Thanks for the compliment though. Ha!Ha!

Annette

DayValleyDahlias · January 24, 2008, 02:13:28 AM

All we bee folks bee beautiful!

Cindi · January 24, 2008, 10:29:37 AM

Annette, yes, you must be on my mind, hee, hee. ;) :) :) That is a funnnnneeee thing. I knew it was Sharon that posted the post about the bees on her greenhouse roof, and when I read your post and saw that I typed in your name, ooooooh, that made me do that little squeeky laugh and brought a smile to my face. Guess you are on my mind more than I thought, hee, hee. Oh how I love my forum girlfriends. Kathy, Ann, Annette and Sharon, oops, and you too Angi. I forgot to put you here too, probably because you are newer to the forum, I was thinking about this post last night and had to find it so I could modify it and let you know I think of you alot too, girl, you are a great new girlfriend too, you are important. I am sure there will be more girlfriends in our forum, but you all have been here for quite some time, we are family........and yes, you are all on my mind alot, especially when we are beginning our venture into the spring that surely doth come our way, happy, happy, happy day. Have the most beautiful and awesome of days, Cindi