Bees hovering around air vents in the hive: Robbing?

[JonnyPicklechin]

Hi

Ive got a lot of bees hovering around in all directions of the hive. I dont see any aggression at the entrance. Is this investigation from potential robbers? Is it wise to close up the entrance a bit?

 

[bjosephd]

Sounds like a new consignment of foragers from within getting their bearings.

 

[JonnyPicklechin]

Sounds like a new consignment of foragers from within getting their bearings.

Seems odd as they have never clustered around the rear and top of the hives like this before. Normally its typical hovering 'in front of the front of the hive'.

 

[Millet]

Hi

Ive got a lot of bees hovering around in all directions of the hive. I dont see any aggression at the entrance. Is this investigation from potential robbers? Is it wise to close up the entrance a bit?

If your colony is strong they should be ok as far as robbing goes, stick your bee suit on at sit to the side of the entrance for a bit and watch what is going on at the entrance, if the bees are freely flying in and out with nectar and pollen all is good, which they should be at this time of the year when the weather is nice, i had a Nuc being robbed last week and you can clearly see the difference in behavior, no pollen going in and the odd tussle at the entrance and next to no stores inside the Nuc, i had to feed them and now all the new brood has emerged in there the Nuc is stronger with more guard bees at the small entrance with the odd robber quickly being turfed out.
In your case as Joseph has stated it is likely to be orientation flights i would say.

 

[bjosephd]

If your colony is strong they should be ok as far as robbing goes, stick your bee suit on at sit to the side of the entrance for a bit and watch what is going on at the entrance, if the bees are freely flying in and out with nectar and pollen all is good, which they should be at this time of the year when the weather is nice, i had a Nuc being robbed last week and you can clearly see the difference in behavior, no pollen going in and the odd tussle at the entrance and next to no stores inside the Nuc, i had to feed them and now all the new brood has emerged in there the Nuc is stronger with more guard bees at the small entrance with the odd robber quickly being turfed out.

In your case as Joseph has stated it is likely to be orientation flights i would say.

I agree with Millet... it's time very well spent watching the hive entrance up close for an extended period of time. You start to learn what the different behaviours might suggest.

And yea, reducing the entrance a little (or a lot) might be an idea until you work out what's going on exactly.

 

[JonnyPicklechin]

Will have a look guys and see what I see. Cheers

 

[Gilberdyke John]

Hi

Ive got a lot of bees hovering around in all directions of the hive. I dont see any aggression at the entrance. Is this investigation from potential robbers? Is it wise to close up the entrance a bit?

Intriguing that you have air vents (plural)

 

[Millet]

Intriguing that you have air vents (plural)

My roofs also have vents John, some have 2 x vents and some have 4, they are a waste of time though as i have the holes in the crown boards blocked up.

 

[Gilberdyke John]

My roofs also have vents John, some have 2 x vents and some have 4, they are a waste of time though as i have the holes in the crown boards blocked up.

I was reading the title as indicating there were vents into the hive body akin to those in some polyhives. At least one type comes with solid plugs and mesh plugs allowing the hole in the hive to be used as a secondary entrance, a ventilator or just be blocked up. I keep mine blocked as I subscribe to Derek M principles.