Question about my hive. Fanning

[downhome]

I went out today to put on a honey super. The hive is booming with 2 deeps and still busting at the seams. There were bees all over the bottom of the lid, the top of the inner cover and all over the inside of the inner cover. There usually isn't any on the lid or outside of the inner cover. I set the lid and inner cover on the ground, some of them clumped together on the side of the hive about a mans hand full. I removed the reducer for the first time. Then I noticed they all started gathering around and fanning with their bottoms in the air.

Why would they do this when the hive is already established? There was literally 15-20 all across the front of the hive fanning. It worried me a little so I decided to put the reducer back on. They seem to be doing fine running in and out the little door. Plus won't a smaller entrance help with pest (ie small hive beetle and ants) There was still a few fanning when I left.

Stinks being a Newbee...wish I new it all already :)

downhome

[11x]

i think it should be wide open at this point in the year arround here. especialy if there is a good population to defend aginst robbing

[kkettelhut]

sounds like they were trying to up the airflow through the hive... You might want to pull the reducer

[Ardilla]

That is pretty normal when a bunch of bees get displaced out side the hive. They are scenting with their Nasanov glands to guide the rest back in.

And yes, remove the reducer.

[Oldbee]

"Then I noticed they all started gathering around and fanning with their bottoms in the air.

Why would they do this when the hive is already established? There was literally 15-20 all across the front of the hive fanning."

This is an excellent photo of a bee fanning while exposing its Nasonov gland: http://farm1.static.flickr.com/132/401100905_6e3ecb4efa.jpg?v=0

Bees fanning for the purpose of ventilation don't appear to hold the abdomen as erect as this most of the time. The abdomen also has a more downward tilt with no separation between the last two segments to expose the gland. Not a good photo, but here's one: http://ento.psu.edu/extension/insect-image-gallery/all-images/honey-bees-fanning-at-entrance-to-hive.jpg/view A better photohttp://i310.photobucket.com/albums/kk429/insectsRock/IMG_0191A-1.jpg?t=1245602816

[downhome]

Yes they all looked just like the picture. Cool pic. I went back out put on another honey super for a total of 2. They were already lined up on the other one starting to do the wax. I removed the reducer. We'll see how it goes. I have a wild hive out here and their entrance is about the size of the one with the reducer on and they seem to do okay. Is heat a concern if the whole is too small?

[Oldbee]

"Is heat a concern if the whole is too small?"

Yes I would think so in Kansas at this time of year. I think wild hives with small holes are more in the shade than the way we [beekeepers] keep them.