need your wisdom: activity around hive after rain?

[acatlett]

HI all and thanks in advance for any guidance you can offer! We have had a deluge of rain this morning in Wisconsin. It is clearing up, and now around my hives I see ALOT of activity. I've read about robbing so looked for wrestling bees at the entrance but don't see any. There bees climbing up the hive.

About a week ago I noticed a similar increase in activity after a rain. Between times the bees have been zipping to and from the hive in their normal happy pattern.

I started my hives about 5 weeks ago and didn't use an entrance reducer at the recommendation of my local beek guru. Hmmm did I do wrong? Could they be gettin robbed? When I last opened the hive a week ago (have first hive body only) there was some capped honey but not a ton- mostly brood and pollen. They otherwise are producing well, no queen cells, delightful creatures etc.

Thoughts?

Thanks alot!

[Dr.Wax]

If they are cooped up during heavy rain they will eagerly fly out to forage the first chance they get so activity will increase. I think it's probably as simple as that.

Just like if you have a house full of kids who wanted to play outside but weather didn't permit them, when the weather finally lets up they will fly out that door.

[acatlett]

Thanks, I'm reassured. That was my initial theory as well!

[Brent Bean]

I agree with Dr.Wax, if you don’t see fighting which is easy to recognize, they are just all leaving to get busy at the same time. Bees don’t like it when they can’t fly. :)

[dcross]

Also, with all these heavily(!) watered clover plants blooming in WI right now, robbing is a long shot.

[Joseph Clemens]

Sounds like orientation flights.

[Michael Bush]

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesrobbing.htm

[MapMan]

Also, with all these heavily(!) watered clover plants blooming in WI right now, robbing is a long shot.

Yes - over ten inches this past weekend. Oh, you folks down in the Chicagoland area - forget about coming up to go swimming in Lake Delton, near the Dells. Floodwaters cut through a county road and the lake drained. The waterparks will reopen, though.;)

MM

[okb]

I have seen several swarms just after t-storms. However havent observed the same after just rain. IMO T-stroms bring out swarms. However Im probably wrong.