Bee wars

[BBC]

Sirs,

I ask for your advice again!
One of my hives has had a large gathering outside and around the entrance. I’ve been putting this down to the heat until yesterday.

So, same thing but much more activity. On closer inspection there were bees fighting each other, there were wasps fighting bees (decapitating and flying off with) and there were bees seemingly walking around aimlessly

Image attached, can provide video footage.

 

[RichardK]

If you haven't already, I'd severely reduce the entrance to help the colony defend themselves. One centimetre wide is a good starting point. It sounds like they're being attacked by another colony / other colonies and wasps. When did you last inspect them & how many frames were they on?

 

[BBC]

Inspected yesterday and all was apparently well.
Does this mean they’re not necessarily the colonies own bees?
Will reduce opening now and get back to you.

 

[BBC]

Amazing, reduced the opening about an hour ago and already things have calmed right down.
Great advice, thank you.

 

[RichardK]

Amazing, reduced the opening about an hour ago and already things have calmed right down.
Great advice, thank you.

That is good news. Lets see what tomorrow brings.

 

[Blunt Spike]

Random question i know but, Is that a brown ceramic headless, armless and legless female torso by the compost bins?

 

[Sutty]

It's possible your inspection, exposing the combs, provoked robbing.
Very hard to avoid - I've wondered about a box for that 1st frame you take out rather than propping it up against the hive!

 

[BBC]

That is good news. Lets see what tomorrow brings.

We’ll see indeed. Thanks again.

 

[BBC]

Random question i know but, Is that a brown ceramic headless, armless and legless female torso by the compost bins?

Yes, a local artist. My wife bought on a whim. Took a few years to find its place….