Bees not clustering

[Lindylou]

Have just put fondant on my hives. Unfortunately one looks to have died out but others seem ok, nicely clustered - all except one. This colony was a swarm we collected and which built up very quickly. It is always the first to have bees flying in mild weather, but on taking off crown board today, found bees all over all the frames, as if it was summer, not clustered at all. Anyone know why?

 

[enrico]

Have just put fondant on my hives. Unfortunately one looks to have died out but others seem ok, nicely clustered - all except one. This colony was a swarm we collected and which built up very quickly. It is always the first to have bees flying in mild weather, but on taking off crown board today, found bees all over all the frames, as if it was summer, not clustered at all. Anyone know why?

Like children.....chalk and cheese. I never see one hive from autumn to spring whatever the weather, other will fly at any opportunity. I reckon they just have different characters!!
E

 

[Lindylou]

Thanks Enrico, at least I know all is ok.

 

[masterBK]

Don't want to put a dampener on this but I have noticed that some queenless and laying worker colonies don't cluster so tightly in winter and can be found spread out like you described. Hopefully this is not the case

 

[Hivemaker.]

Don't want to put a dampener on this but I have noticed that some queenless and laying worker colonies don't cluster so tightly in winter and can be found spread out like you described. Hopefully this is not the case

Had the same thoughts myself, but also didn't want to put a dampener on things.

Also seen them like this back when Acarine was more common.

 

[enrico]

The above could of course be right but there is nothing you can do about it. It's a bit like your cholesterol level. If you don't know it's high you won't worry. Fingers crossed, let's see what happens in spring! Let us know!
E

 

[Erichalfbee]

Nowt to be done for now that's true.
I have one colony in a poly that is similar.
I'll bookmark this thread and revisit it in the spring with an explanation for mine

 

[oliver90owner]

Yet another possible explanation. They may have been hunting for the last vestiges of their winter stores.

In summer they may be quite active and some flying. If near to starvation they were likely to be far less mobile than a summery day.

Cclearly fed, now; but did you heft the hive?

 

[Amari]

Have just put fondant on my hives. Unfortunately one looks to have died out but others seem ok, nicely clustered - all except one. This colony was a swarm we collected and which built up very quickly. It is always the first to have bees flying in mild weather, but on taking off crown board today, found bees all over all the frames, as if it was summer, not clustered at all. Anyone know why?

It was quite warm c.10C around midday and although not many bees were flying they quickly emerged when I inserted a Varrox = not tightly clustered.

 

[user 6228]

looking the research into clustering...
one thing is noted that during the day they dont stay put unless it really cold.
A wooden hive is going to need it to be not far from freezing outside for the inside to be below 10C depending on wind etc...

 

[Lindylou]

Oh well fingers crossed then. They definately weren't queenless when we tucked them up for winter, but who knows? Only time will tell.

 

[Dishmop]

The colder it gets the closer together they get and the less they move......so if it was not really very cold, perhaps they didnt find a need to "cluster".

 

[Hawklord]

If you've too much insulation they will be less likely to cluster, making them more active and therefore eating stores too quickly.

 

[BeeJayBee]

If you've too much insulation they will be less likely to cluster, making them more active and therefore eating stores too quickly.

Not necessarily "eating stores too quickly" in a well insulated hive, but I'll leave Derek to explain why.

 

[farbee]

The above could of course be right but there is nothing you can do about it. It's a bit like your cholesterol level. If you don't know it's high you won't worry. Fingers crossed, let's see what happens in spring! Let us know!
E

Sorry had to comment on this Enrico. Not sure this is good medical advise. Can be lowered with diet so best to address rather than ignore. Hopefully one of the forum medicals docs will confirm. My father died at 42 many years ago when far less known about this.

 

[Amari]

Sorry had to comment on this Enrico. Not sure this is good medical advise. Can be lowered with diet so best to address rather than ignore. Hopefully one of the forum medicals docs will confirm. My father died at 42 many years ago when far less known about this.

That shows great faith in medics (retired in my case)! They are almost as likely to give differing opinions as us forumites. However can't go far wrong with sensible diet and exercise with cholesterol and blood pressure check every 5 years or so.

 

[domino]

Today in my part of South London it's 60% warmer than the seasonal norm. apparently Saturday it'll be double the average maximum temperature. It's closer to March type temperatures than January. My hives are quite but given the temperatures I don't expect them to be clustered very tightly.

This winter I'm trying not to feed them at all, I've got them all on 12x14s with a full super so I'm hoping not to have to feed them sugar. I'm really hoping to avoid feeding because a) I loathe making syrup for the price of one super of honey I don't have to mess around feeding and b) it's better for them.

The only thing I'll think I'll end up feeding is my poly nuc.

If we have a rerun of last year's weather it would be nice.

 

[Lindylou]

Who would have thought a question about bees clustering could have started a discussion on cholesterol