What were they doing?

[Nock]

Took my second trip down to the hives today. Noticed that they appeared to be licking/gathering something off the landing board. Whatever it was wasn?t visible. It did rain today but I didn?t see any water on it. Thoughts?

[herbhome]

Sounds like washboarding. Were they also doing it to the sides of the hive box? If it is washboarding, it's one of the inscrutible behaviors of honey bees. 

[Nock]

Sounds like washboarding. Were they also doing it to the sides of the hive box? If it is washboarding, it's one of the inscrutible behaviors of honey bees. 

Just in front of the entrance.

[Nock]

I looked it up. Yep that?s what they were doing. Thanks. Learned something today 

[BeeMaster2]

We are not sure what they are doing. Looks like they are cleaning the entrance. They also do it in the hive.
It may bee muscle exercises, we really don?t know.
Jim Altmiller

[Donovan J]

Took my second trip down to the hives today. Noticed that they appeared to be licking/gathering something off the landing board. Whatever it was wasn?t visible. It did rain today but I didn?t see any water on it. Thoughts?

They were doing bee yoga. JK. They may bee cleaning something off the landing board.

[Ben Framed]

We are not sure what they are doing. Looks like they are cleaning the entrance. They also do it in the hive.
It may bee muscle exercises, we really don?t know.
Jim Altmiller

So far, I have not seen this behavior in my short time of beekeeping. Let me ask, does it look like nurse bees that do this Jim, are they the young grey bees? Once a hive starts this, does the hive continue this practice on through the summer months or is it a sporadic behavior?  I am curious. 

[BeeMaster2]

Watch the bees on the outside of the hive. If you have more than a few guard bees, usually they will he wash boarding.
Jim Altmiller