A General Hive Question

[beesnweeds]

They were marching back and forth like sentinels.

Is that your robbing guard on the entrance?  If it is the bees are just confused on how to get back in.  Take off the guard and leave a small one or two inch entrance.

[The15thMember]

I just noticed that jar of syrup sitting next to the colony.  That's not at all open, right? 

Is that your robbing guard on the entrance?  If it is the bees are just confused on how to get back in.  Take off the guard and leave a small one or two inch entrance.

Terri has had that on for a while.  Wouldn't the resident bees know how to navigate it reasonably well by now?

[beesnweeds]

No, some bees will always go to the scent of the hive and not directly to the large enough entrance.  Some foragers will just drift to the next hive if there is one.  If they don't some will  may not make it back in at all and die.  Robbing screens can be stressful for a colony.

[Terri Yaki]

Is that your robbing guard on the entrance?  If it is the bees are just confused on how to get back in.  Take off the guard and leave a small one or two inch entrance.

Nah, that's my excuse for a mouse guard and they're used to it now. I know it won't stop mice but I don't think I'll have a problem but if I do, that will let me know. I have the small entrance open under there and the hive seems strong. However, that tube couldn't hurt to help stop robbing. The bees climb all over it, in one hole and out the other. It's almost like they like it.

And no, that syrup isn't open and I brought that jar in earlier and put it in the refrigerator. I sat it out because there were some bees clinging to it at the time.