walking up and down at the entrance

[staythecourse]

My bees did this for about 3 days.

I up have a reduced entrance right now and about 6-10 bees would be there and have their abdomen up and their head down, perfectly vertical and walk 5 paces forward, 5 paces back, 5 paces forward, 5 paces back, on and on.

They were not fanning, they just looked neurotic. I haven't read about that kind of behavior before. What gives?

Thanks.

[Keith Benson]

My bees did this for about 3 days.

Folks call it wash boarding and no one knows why they do it.

Keith

[mike haney]

mine are doing it rite now. commonly believed to be a sign of a happy hive. good luck,mike

[hummingberd]

what about taking the entrance reducer out? Why do you have it on during this time of year? Is the colony weak?

[staythecourse]

Yeah, the hive is weak. When it starts looking crowded I'll make a larger entrance. Good observation and I thought some wise soul would see it. Kudos.

[staythecourse]

Since I jump to many conclusions which are later debunked I'll be happy to make a leap of judgment.

I introduced a new queen to my dying hive on May 31st. Could these be brand new baby girls washboarding?

I ask because I saw this article (http://esa.confex.com/esa/2003/techprogram/paper_11018.htm)

In fact! That works out perfect with that guy's hypothesis. It was about 15 days after the honeymoon and I see washboarding within the height of it's likeliness with new bees. I think I'll write a thesis on the topic, be recognized in the bee world, and become a millionaire.

[Bill_beesourceforums]

One beekeeping book I read mentions bees walking in a "horseshoe" pattern for a few days prior to starting to build swarm cells. Sounds kind of strange but maybe not to a bee. ;) Or they might be pacing outside the bee maternity ward.

[rmhcattle]

i have a hive that is starfoam and the have done this every seance they been in it thing this is my ploblem?

[staythecourse]

i have a hive that is starfoam and the have done this every seance they been in it thing this is my ploblem?

RMH, Are the bees "washboarding" or walking in a horseshoe?

I think you're asking if the Styrofoam hive is making your bees washboard. Is that your question RMH?

[meganm]

ok, so if walking back and forth is washboarding, what is it when they look like they're sweeping? mine rock back and forth without walking anywhere, and as they rock, they sweep backwards with the front 2 legs, about 4-5 sweeps with each rock back. looks like they're sweeping something back under their bellies. I thought what mine are doing is washboarding, but if the pacing thing is, what are mine doing?
megan

[Oldbee]

ok, so if walking back and forth is washboarding, what is it when they look like they're sweeping? mine rock back and forth without walking anywhere, and as they rock, they sweep backwards with the front 2 legs, about 4-5 sweeps with each rock back. looks like they're sweeping something back under their bellies. I thought what mine are doing is washboarding, but if the pacing thing is, what are mine doing?
megan

I think it is the same thing. You have to be fairly close to the bees; 12 inches or less, to see the backward sweeping. I have my reading glasses on too. Not all of the bees are 'sweeping' at the same time. You can use close focusing binoculars like those used in identifying butterflies, dragonflies and other insects; like wasps and hornets! lol.

[France]

Wash-boarding has been observed as long as I can remember, even in old days back in Europe, (or should I have said: In my younger days?)
To date, nobody had figured out exactly what it means or what purpose it serves - if any?
The general idea is, that whatever had been occupying the bees has ceased to produce nectar and the bees are simply bored?
This is in no way a suggestion that the season for honey making is over for the year, as suggested by some old writings and such, or other sources of info.
Simply said: Whatever was producing has for some reason ceased to keep bees occupied for a spell. . . .


Regards,
France

[trumpet01]

That is what my mentor has told me. In our area when the nector flow stops the bees that collect the nector don't have anything to do,so they are like a bored kid.Nothing to do so they act up a bit. I have been feeding my bees,because the are new, and now when I fill the boardman feeders they flock to them like cattle. My mentor says that he has observed this behavior for over ten years and it almost always coinsides with the nector flow stopping. My two cents worth, Jim <><

[rmhcattle]

they are wash board

[staythecourse]

You shouldn't worry about the wash-boarding then RMH. The big wigs are saying we have bored bees.

Tell us about your styrofoam hive! I picture a cooler! Do you have a picture?

[Dr.Wax]

I had about 150 bees washboarding at thier front entrance today. Looked almost like they were bearding from a distance but once you got up close you could see they were not stacked on top of each other and moving rhythmically.

[staythecourse]

What's bearding? Is it a precurser to swarming?

[Dr.Wax]

Bearding is a clump of bees around the entrance whose purpose is to relieve overheating inside the hive during summertime.

[paulnewbee1]

I have three Styrofoam hives and they are not the best these look like a big cooler a little bigger then the wood, about two inches thick on the sides suppose to keep them warmer in the winter. They have a screen bottom about 12 by 12 but you cant check for mites. Unless you lay sticky board on the ground.
mine are cut a little to deep for the frames will have to put a 3/8 thick hunk of wood to rise the frame up. they company should have not sold them

[meganm]

I don't have any problems with these hives, they seem to be doing just fine. this is what I have:
http://www.betterbee.com/products.asp?dept=240
there are some questions about their function, for ex, not being wood, they don't take up and release moisture like wood does. depending on your environment, that may be good or bad. I got them because we have wide swings in temps and I thought they might provide for a more stable internal temp and less stress on the bees maintaining it. we'll see if it's true, this is my first year keeping in them, and haven't wintered over in them yet.

re: stickyboard, they do have a base that is both screened and set up for a stickyboard. it's not the one included in the standard kit, which is just screened.

best, megan