Cluster outside hive at night

[Cb50]

On my usual check from the outside of the hive tonight at 1030 I noticed a small cluster of bees at the entrance, not walking around but buzzing gently.

Today it has been warm, I am in the south.

This is a new swarm from exactly two weeks ago. I opened them for first the on weekend. Saw eggs and all the frames were down out in the brood box from undrawn when I put them in. Some pollen and sealed honey. Bees have been very busy during the days.

Can anyone allay my concerns or explain this behaviour.

All learning as I am a new one.....thanks in advance any late readers....

Colin

 

[enrico]

Often happens! No worries, they are just adjusting temperature, sometimes they will even beard downwards. It's a nice time to go and have a nice quiet chat with them! I take the entrance reducer right out when it's warm!
E

 

[Cb50]

Often happens! No worries, they are just adjusting temperature, sometimes they will even beard downwards. It's a nice time to go and have a nice quiet chat with them! I take the entrance reducer right out when it's warm!
E

Thanks, been trawling, seems to be consensus.

Have a mesh floor but have board in at moment to check the count. It is going to be much cooler with rain rest of week so will leave it in, maybe got warm today as it was quite hot.

I want to look more closely at the sun. There is a tree to the south of hive but heavy pruning has meant the hive may get a lot of sun.

 

[einsteinagogo]

my colony have been like this, this year, since April, never seem to want to go in, different to last year.

 

[Ben90]

Mine do this quite a lot too. From what I understand it's just to assist in hive thermoregulation.

 

[oliver90owner]

Entrance block is virtually irrelevant as temperature control with an OMF. As its name suggests it is there simply to regulate the size of the entrance. Probably only needs to be about twice its current size, that is all.

 

[Cb50]

Thanks people, really helpful.

All seemed well this morning, coming and going as normal and gone from the outside.

There was lots of swarming in the area over weekend so was worried it maybe related to that but would have been surprised being a new swarm in itself.

Thanks again

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

When they are ripening the honey they need plenty of room to allow free passage of air around the hive. When the flying bees come home in the evening it gets a bit crowded in there so they have to hang around outside until the job is done.

 

[enrico]

Entrance block is virtually irrelevant as temperature control with an OMF. As its name suggests it is there simply to regulate the size of the entrance. Probably only needs to be about twice its current size, that is all.

I agree but it does let a few more out for fresh air! That's all I meant!
E