Face to Face

[mikecva]

My bees have started something I do not remember seeing before (but then I sometimes do not remember breakfast  :brian:) For the past 3 days they have been standing in rows, usually 3 rows but today 5 rows. There are about 50 workers face-to-face with 50 foragers in each row. I watched them for about 30 minutes today, a forager lands, goes face-to-face with a worker, then a few seconds (10-15) later the forager goes back out and the worker goes inside the hive, both being replaced by two others. It is kind of cool to watch the process but I have no idea what they are doing (there is no communication dance or wiggle just land face off and part.) The hive is correct inside, extra growing room, a good laying queen etc. Any ideas what this face off is about?

[FRAMEshift]

They are passing nectar.  This usually goes on inside the hive.  And since I have screened bottoms it also happens through the screen from outside to inside.  I have not seen it done on the face of the hive but that's what it sounds like.