What is the Bee dance on the outside of the hive?

[dindallas]

I have noticed late in the afternoon that bees are staying on the outside of the brood box near the entrance. I believe that this clustering is because of the inside temperature. I propped open the top about 1/4" and that seems to have reduced the numbers on the outside. They are now near the bottom and the top openings.

My question relates to the forward and backward movement of the bees. They will move forward (up) about a 1/4" and then move backward (down) the same distance. They do not appear to be fanning since I can see their wings. It reminds me of a rocking motion but they are actually moving a short distance.

What is this movement? Does it indicate that there is something I need to change? I did a search but must not be using the correct search word.

Thanks for any help you can provide.

[indypartridge]

Search on "washboarding" and you'll see quite a few posts asking the same question. You'll also see quite a few answers, most of which indicate that we really don't know why bees do this. It's fun to watch; looks like line dancing to me!

[Hambone]

Did the dance look anything like this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOIP0UPiLvA

[devdog108]

I have a friend that dances like that. he came out about 3 years ago...>FINALLY.....jeez.

[Michael Bush]

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesfaqs.htm#washboarding

[devdog108]

Here's a dumb question......has anyone just sat back and watched them or observed them when this happens. I am sure someone has to see if they just all of a sudden end and go back to what they were doing....etc....just curious

[NasalSponge]

I have watched them do it for hours...right now I have the cover propped open on one of my hives and all the bees in the opening are doing it....all of them, going on day 4.

[devdog108]

Does that mean you have been awake for 4 days...ROFL

[m.zook]

Did the dance look anything like this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOIP0UPiLvA

If my bee's danced like that I would have to requeen:eek:I hope you didnt have that video saved in your favorites:scratch:

[dindallas]

I have to move the hive (mentioned at the top of this thread) to another location. There are a lot of bees on the outside of the hive even at 10:00pm. When preparing to move a hive, I would "normally" screen off the entrance late at night and put a strap around the whole hive so it does not come apart during the move. Then I would move the hive the next morning and put something in front of the hive to make the bees reorient themselves.

I would like to capture as many bees as possible before the move. How can I coax them to go back into the box so I can screen the entrance? Will smoke work at night?

I am being forced to make the move now so any suggestions as to how to collect as many bees as possible will be appreciated.

Thanks

[franktrujillo]

hello, everyone now I have watched them as well...now look very carfully at them....hint look at what they are doing with there mouths there sealing cracks and cleaning as well as guarding the hive entrance and you can find guard bees checking around the hive as well....."washboarding":popcorn:sometimes look at the tree not the forest

[Oldbee]

You didn't mention how big your hive is. Is it one or two brood chambers deep? Maybe they need more room. Can you put an empty super on in the evening temporarily? [It won't be propolised of course!] Staple screening over the hole in the inner cover [or whole box top] and prop the outer cover more than 1/4 inch or don't even use the outer cover. I don't know what your weather temps. are there. If it's warm, just provide plenty of ventilation toward evening. Smoking in the evening might work around the entrances but not directly into the hive.

"now look very carfully at them" - frankt

When I have watched them doing this, they seem to be scratching or gathering up something with their front legs on the backward movement.

At times when I put my ear to the hive, I also hear a kind of light ticking or scratching sound. They may be doing this inside the hive also. I don't have an observation hive.

[dindallas]

You didn't mention how big your hive is. Is it one or two brood chambers deep? Maybe they need more room. Can you put an empty super on in the evening temporarily? [It won't be propolised of course!] Staple screening over the hole in the inner cover [or whole box top] and prop the outer cover more than 1/4 inch or don't even use the outer cover. I don't know what your weather temps. are there. If it's warm, just provide plenty of ventilation toward evening. Smoking in the evening might work around the entrances but not directly into the hive.



This hive has two brood boxes and a medium super. I have propped the inner cover open about 1/4 inches hoping to help with ventilation. Our temperatures are low 90s during the day and still in the 80s a couple of hours after dark. It cools down to the 60s early in the morning. There are several frames in the upper super that are not yet built out.

Since there are not many on the outside of the hive early in the morning, is that the best time to close it up? I probably will lose the foragers that are already out at that time. I know I will lose some bees no matter when I move it. I am just trying to minimize the losses.

Any suggestions will be appreciated.

[beekeeperlady]

any chance you can get a hose and a fine rain sprayer on it. and spray up into the air so it comes down like rain? i did that with a traped swarm to get them to go in the hive.. and it worked. they dont like the rain pounding them it seems.. gl! any chance too you can get there just before dawn breaks. that might help..

[Oldbee]

"Since there are not many on the outside of the hive early in the morning, is that the best time to close it up?"

Yes, that would be the best time if you have this problem with bearding/washboarding. Your temperatures are certainly warm enough for them to be out late. I did this once early in the spring, but there were no bees out foraging yet.

".. any chance too you can get there just before dawn breaks. that might help.."
Good point; that would be ideal of course. My problem when having to do something like this is waking up 'early enough' :sleep: :). I had to do this once with a nuc. I still think :rolleyes: about those bees that were,.left behind :cry:.

[devdog108]

Could you not put another hive in its spot maybe with a frame of honey. Then move them once a morning say for 3-4 days to catch the stragglers?