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I have always found the markings on runways to be useful. Last night, while discussing hive decorations with my wife, I wondered if bees might as well. I've seen discussions here of the problems bees may have touching down on the landing board if their hive is moved just a little. So, I thought, maybe the same runway threshold pilots use to look like they know what they're doing might help bees as well.
I'm thinking of using the pattern below on one of my bottom boards to see if the bees on that hive land more gracefully than on a plain one. If nothing else, it is a distinctive entrance marking that might reduce drifting.
The two light areas above the threshold markings are for runway heading. Typically hives face east or south. The runway heading markings are the opposite magnetic heading, rounded to the nearest 10 degrees and dropping the last digit. So if the hive faces east, the heading is west (270 degrees) and the runway is marked 27. If the hive faces south, the heading is north, and the marking is 36. Not that the bees can read, but you want to impress your pilot friends.
I'm thinking of using the pattern below on one of my bottom boards to see if the bees on that hive land more gracefully than on a plain one. If nothing else, it is a distinctive entrance marking that might reduce drifting.
The two light areas above the threshold markings are for runway heading. Typically hives face east or south. The runway heading markings are the opposite magnetic heading, rounded to the nearest 10 degrees and dropping the last digit. So if the hive faces east, the heading is west (270 degrees) and the runway is marked 27. If the hive faces south, the heading is north, and the marking is 36. Not that the bees can read, but you want to impress your pilot friends.
