One or two of my hives are doing the same; definite clumps of bees at the
entrance.
I see that relative humidity today is running at 80 - 90%. That makes it very
difficult to reduce the water content of unripened nectar as the only way of
getting rid of the moisture is to breath it out of the hive entrance into air
that is already full of moisture. Increased airflow will help a little, so it
makes sense for bees to make space in the hive for air circulation. But it is
a little chilly outside, hence it also makes sense to cluster for warmth.
Gareth
On 3 Jun 2020, at 14:12, Oxnatbees <oxnatbees@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Not sure what they are up to, but it could be that the colony is busy in the
hive processing all the lovely nectar they have gathered in the recent good
weather, so turfed some bees out to free up the surface of the combs and also
perhaps to enhance airflow.
So they may just be clustering while they wait because they have nothing
better to do and it is not as warm as it was and they prefer to be cosy.
Other explanations exist but I think this is a reasonable possibility.
Especially if it is rainfall Ng where you are (it is here), so they can't fly
off and the humidity would be a factor.
L
On Wed, 3 Jun 2020, 13:57 Jane denby, <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>> wrote:
My bees are intriguing me today and it would be great to get some ideas from
the group about what they are doing?
They appear to be almost in swarm-like clumps, definitely a clump and not
much foraging. The foraging is understandable as it is chilly today! They
have bearded in the past, when it is very warm but that is more single layer;
these are definitely clumps! I have a window and they are not overcrowded,
well I can see some comb, so not totally packed in.
We have a decoy wasp nest up and we have seen no wasps at all so I don’t
think they are protecting against wasps!
The freedom hive has a bit of traffic, and also the other TBH, as expected
and usual behaviour for the weather.
I have noticed over the last week or so that there has been a lot of
washboarding and generally chilling at the entrance to hive. This TBH has two
colonies, one has about 2/3 of the space. They both had a prime swarm on the
same day about 10 days ago. Do you think that they are thinking about
swarming but have got the timing wrong?
It is so interesting that they are both doing the same.
It has an eco floor which I have not opened; should we take a peak/ change it
out?
Would love to have people’s thoughts.
Cheers,
Jane
