Hot weather bees

[Rooster007]

I know we've all been having really hot weather and the bees can cope with it all but yesterday when I got home from work and looked at the bees I thought I had a swarm or at least on the verge of swarming.

Loads of bees around the entrance which is nothing unusual.
However, this is the first time I've seen a load of bees clustered under the floor which you can just about see in the picture.

I didn't look in the hive last night and will do this over the weekend.

By 9pm though all the bees under the hive had gone back in and the landing area on the floor was a lot clearer.

Were they just trying to keep cool?

I've another hive which wasn't as bad but that doesn't face as directly at the sun as this one so they were only on the landing area.

 

[enrico]

I would say yes but I would block that gap off between the stand and the entrance to stop them underflying accidentally. Easy to lose a mated queen under there. Just a bit of wood would do the trick
E

 

[citrus]

also what kind of bees are going outside to keep cool ?

the queen stays in the middle right ?

 

[The Poot in Somerset]

also what kind of bees are going outside to keep cool ?

the queen stays in the middle right ?

The hot ones.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

also what kind of bees are going outside to keep cool ?

the queen stays in the middle right ?

Bees are very adept in controlling temperature using water and air movement, in a crowded hive some bees will move out and beard at the entrance to allow more space for efficient air circulation. You often see it during a flow when there's honey to be ripened

 

[citrus]

Bees are very adept in controlling temperature using water and air movement, in a crowded hive some bees will move out and beard at the entrance to allow more space for efficient air circulation. You often see it during a flow when there's honey to be ripened

thanks for that ..

so probably a sign that nuc is full and I should get it in a hive when the rain stops !