Bees hanging around entrance moving back and forth. What's up?

[honeydog]

Hi, All,

I've noticed on my second hive, a good number of bees are hanging out at the entrance, day and night. They seem to just be walking forward and backward. There are still foragers going out and returning, but I'm not sure what these bees are doing. It's not hot here (under 90 the last few days, which has been great), and they aren't fanning.

I took a video and you can see this most clearly on the right of the frame. Any ideas? I'm ready to do a general inspection of that hive, but want to look for anything that should concern me.

http://youtu.be/Vn8FA9n3LuU

Thanks!
Jen

[ParanoidBeek]

washboarding, perfectly normal

[honeydog]

Ooh - awesome. Thanks!

[TrvVn5]

There are some really good YouTube videos of washboarding. Take a look at those and see if that is what they are doing. I find washboarding amazing. I think it's such an odd behavior that no one really has an explanation for.

[Keth Comollo]

Washboarding . . .

[mrobinson]

This is variously called "washboarding" or "bearding," and many newbeeks confuse it with an impending swarm. Have no fear... It is not.

When bees are swarming, there are a lot of bees in the air and there's a lot of noise. But in this case, you notice that they are quiet and they are landed. They might be standing around on the hive surface, or even literally hanging beneath it.

It's probably a hot, muggy summer day. There's no air conditioning (of course...) in a beehive, so they're doing what any sensible insect would do: hanging around outside, tryin' their best to keep cool, sipping some mint juleps or sweet iced tea, and maybe grousing about "the hot weather we've been having 'round here lately."

(Phew! Can't say as I blame 'em... Please, is it Fall yet?)