Curious about queen behaviour

[borderer]

I was watching my bees today and noticed a small cluster of bees on the landing board. A close look revealed that the cluster was around the recently hatched queen. (still in Q cell on Tuesday) The behaviour of the bees did not appear friendly as they seemed to be trying to prevent the queen from flying. Can anyone suggest what were the bees trying to do?

 

[drstitson]

keep her in the hive as she is too young to mate?

 

[borderer]

thanks for that, it was realy fascinating to watch

 

[huntsman666]

I would have thought they would be driving her out to get on with her nuptial flight.

They may also have a welcoming committee to greet her home if successful.

 

[Midland Beek]

What a stupid creature bees are to invest all hopes of colony survival in one queen and her mating flights. You can almost forgive the workers their panic and confusion at the disappearance of this queen on one of her flights.

And maybe she had damaged wings and could not fly.

 

[borderer]

I wondered about her being damaged. The bees appeared to be trying to prevent her from leaving. Every time she went back in the hive they left her alone