Bees outside hive at night

Wocky · January 13, 2011, 10:36:41 AM

It's been raining pretty heavily here for a few days; the temperature is about 25 deg C, but the humidity is very high, presently about 90%. It's not raining at present, but it only stopped about 30 minutes ago. I've got two hives in my backyard, one has two boxes, the other three. I've just had a look at them (it's about 1.30AM here) and both have several thousand bees on the front of the hive (they're several layers deep.)

Should I expect them to swarm soon? Are they just keeping the hive cool, or relatively dry? I can't open them up while it's wet, but the rain is expected to last for a few more days. Should I be worried?

Thanks in advance.

AllenF · January 13, 2011, 11:26:23 AM

Nothing to be worried about. They are just bearded up. Bearding is natural, you can check do a search here one it. Check them to make sure they have open super frames to store honey when you get a chance.

OzBuzz · January 13, 2011, 07:12:02 PM

Mine have been bearding a lot over the past few days because of the temperatures and the humidity - perfectly normal habit - as Allen suggested when the weather clears up pop the lid and check that they have some room - if they're building burr comb on the lid (assuming you don't have mats) they need more room... but i don't think you'll have a problem

hardwood · January 13, 2011, 07:31:03 PM

Bearding is typical. I get worried when they DON'T beard!

Scott

Wocky · January 14, 2011, 02:45:22 AM

Thanks everyone. The forecast is for a relatively clear afternoon tomorrow, so I'll get into them then.

Michael Bush · January 14, 2011, 04:02:38 AM

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

OzBuzz · January 17, 2011, 07:32:56 PM

Quote from: Wocky on January 14, 2011, 02:45:22 AM

Thanks everyone. The forecast is for a relatively clear afternoon tomorrow, so I'll get into them then.

How did you go?

Wocky · January 21, 2011, 02:06:46 AM

Quote from: OzBuzz on January 17, 2011, 07:32:56 PM

How did you go?

Everything's fine. I've added a box to the formerly-two-box hive, and stole five frames of honey from the other.

One odd thing, though: when I had the upper supers on the ground, the bees walked over the top edges of the ones remaining (which I expected). I tried brushing them back into the hive with my bee brush, and the flew very fast at my other hand - it was like bullets hitting my hand (well, OK, very slow-moving bullets, but still...) None of that lot stung me.

hardwood · January 21, 2011, 03:02:15 PM

Wocky, brushing bees can really piss them off some times. It's better to push them down with smoke.

Scott

OzBuzz · January 23, 2011, 10:23:47 PM

Quote from: hardwood on January 21, 2011, 03:02:15 PM
Wocky, brushing bees can really piss them off some times. It's better to push them down with smoke.

Scott

Definitely agree with what Hardwood says! it all depends on the pace and strength you're doing it with too! slow and gently is the key - smoke, i have found, is by far the best way to muster apis :)

ronwhite3030 · February 04, 2011, 04:47:16 AM

I agree with hardwood, use the bee brush for something else then bees, I bought a kit when i first started and it came with one, I use mine for brushing off my workstation, pissing off bees is all a bee brush is good for, sometimes a back scratcher too.

bee-nuts · February 04, 2011, 05:56:17 AM

I have found that when you have crappy humid rainy weather they are easily agitated with the brush and will head butt any object that seems like a threat. When under nice weather conditions I have really had no problems with brushing the bees. They just fly around, land and crawl back in their home.

Mardak · February 04, 2011, 06:08:47 AM

We moved about 60 doubles and triples the other night and bearding was very plentiful after the unload. Hot or warm weather sometimes dictates what the hives will do. Full boxes probably do not allow enough air to circulate inside the box for cooling. fascinating creatures the way they organise themselves.