Cluster under the floor

[Etton]

I have one hive with the bees clustering under despite my gently brushing off and blocking the hive front on a couple of occasions. If same tomorrow I might spay some air freshener underneath the OMF to see if that stops them clustering there.

 

[Murox]

I have one hive with the bees clustering under despite my gently brushing off and blocking the hive front on a couple of occasions. If same tomorrow I might spay some air freshener underneath the OMF to see if that stops them clustering there.

You should try and work out why they are doing that now and address the issue - they're not desperate drones are they ??

 

[enrico]

I have one hive with the bees clustering under despite my gently brushing off and blocking the hive front on a couple of occasions. If same tomorrow I might spay some air freshener underneath the OMF to see if that stops them clustering there.

Put some net the whole way round the bottom of the hive to stop them getting there at all unless the mesh floor has come undone and they are getting through that. The pins can come out of the mesh floor!

 

[Gilberdyke John]

I have one hive with the bees clustering under despite my gently brushing off and blocking the hive front on a couple of occasions. If same tomorrow I might spay some air freshener underneath the OMF to see if that stops them clustering there.

Just block off the gap from entrance to ground thus stopping the underflying. Cardboard will do the job (or any other blocking material.)

 

[E&MBees]

Just block off the gap from entrance to ground thus stopping the underflying. Cardboard will do the job (or any other blocking material.)

Weed membrane works well. I had a similar problem in the summer.

 

[cwinte]

Single or double brood boxes?

Brood + half

 

[cwinte]

Could you put the box on a new floor (I think still just warm enough in the SE)?
The mound is probably the bottom arc of the nest? If you leave it the bees will probably stay put on that comb when the temps drop and will just freeze. Unlikely they'll decide to leave it and move indoors.

If it is the bottom arc of their nest they really like it there. I have no QX at present and still a super over the brood shallow - so they have loads of height available. I took a super of honey just a few weeks ago.
I have cleared the under clump multiple times this year and had yellow corex board in there 30% of the summer for observing drop pattern etc. I am just back from Cornwall and the mound is smaller but still present (and yes, quite a lot more dead bees and pollen bits below than normal), so I will get in there and have a look/clear them today. Never seen comb in the past though they do tend to stick the yellow core in place with wax or propolis if it is left for a week.
Will also add a barrier against the underfly/crawl around behaviours. I like the idea of something flexible or removable so I can see under and clean when needed. I normally have a 18" sq tile under to show what is dropping out and show any dead bees etc.
Interestingly the dead bees seem to be about what the few wasps are happy with - it keeps the area clear of dead bees which I guess reduces pathogens in the area!

 

[ericbeaumont]

If it is the bottom arc of their nest they really like it there.

Steady! Anthropomorphism alert!

They do it because it fulfils a need: if the bottom arc of the nest is below the floor it suggests that space inside is insufficient and that brood+half is not enough. Try double brood next season and see if the behaviour stops.

 

[Rhyolite]

So I removed the reducer all together and put on the mouse guard.

Blocked off below the hive with some wood, now they're clustering from the back.

I've just removed the inspection board completly to see if that deters them.

 

[Swarm]

It's a case of learned behaviour, you will need to block off access all round the hive so front, back and sides to prevent them getting back.

 

[Rhyolite]

It's a case of learned behaviour, you will need to block off access all round the hive so front, back and sides to prevent them getting back.

I'll sort something out tomorrow so. Thank you

 

[enrico]

Or use a solid floor for a month or two!

 

[RichardBeeW]

If the bees have a ‘need’ (for whatever reason) to cluster so low below the broodnest would it help to place an empty super or BB above the floor and below the existing BB? Obviously I’m guessing you’d definitely still need to block off access below the floor too. I’ve never seen this phenomenon myself so my suggestion might have lots of drawbacks

 

[Swarm]

It's just a simple case of confusion, I had a similar situation in the Summer with a colony that had made a DIY entrance at the rear of the floor. I noticed it and sealed it up, thinking the problem was solved but I didn't consider how many bees had been using this new entrance. Next visit, I found a considerable clump of bees underneath. Obviously, they return to find the entrance sealed and in their effort to find it they find the OMF instead. They will carry on doing this until you seal off any other access other than the entrance then they will re orientate.

 

[cwinte]

Steady! Anthropomorphism alert!

They do it because it fulfils a need: if the bottom arc of the nest is below the floor it suggests that space inside is insufficient and that brood+half is not enough. Try double brood next season and see if the behaviour stops.

Good point. I think I was a bit tongue in cheek with my comment ;-) but that hive does seem so active, even today 4 times busier than my next most active. So double brood would be a good thing to try - must order another brood box! I removed them all to the grass below and cleaned the OMF, inserted a yellow corex board. They are back behind the horizontal of the stand again!

 

[Boston Bees]

I had a similar situation in the Summer with a colony that had made a DIY entrance at the rear of the floor. I noticed it and sealed it up, thinking the problem was solved but I didn't consider how many bees had been using this new entrance. Next visit, I found a considerable clump of bees underneath. Obviously, they return to find the entrance sealed and in their effort to find it they find the OMF instead.

Yes - I have a double entrance like this myself. Paynes don't do a great job of screwing the OMF floors down in their hives. I have left mine with both entrances for the last few months and will sort it in spring.

 

[Rhyolite]

So I took out the entrance reducer completly and installed the mouse guard. I blocked off below the entrance and the gap where the inspection board would slot in also.

Problem appears to be solved. Thanks all.

 

[BugsInABox]

Now I didn’t know that. I’ve blithely pottered down the garden to look at mine through an observation window on several nights. Not got too close but generally assumed they couldn’t see me.

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