How do your bees behave in hot weather?

[Sanctuary]

As we're been so short of hot weather, it might seem like a strange question.

But I've been away all day, just got back c.9.30pm, at a time when all the bees have usually gone to bed. Only to find LOTS lying dormant on the landing board in front of the hive. So dormant I thought they were dead! After my panic stopped, I did notice they were very slowly moving into the hive.

Has anyone else observed similar behaviour?

What does it mean?

Should I be rigging a sunshade above the hive?

 

[VEG]

they are probably hot and knackered after a hard day foraging

 

[Polyanwood]

This bearding outside in hot weather is normal.

 

[Margaret Elisabeth]

they are probably hot and knackered after a hard day foraging

The sudden change in the weather does the same thing to human beings I notice.

I have been adding water to a shallow stone sink I filled with gravel to set some plants in. I noticed the bees at it after the rain so I am keeping the water level up. Those girls must get thirsty working so hard. I noticed a worker grab a quick snack of some dropped pollen on the flight board before taking off again on the evening shift around eight thirty.

 

[jd101k2000]

Bees at midnight

I just went down at midnight to check that the girls were in bed. (OK I'm a new beek and a bit obsessive.)

I was surprised to see the dirty stop-outs at the entrance of the hive... like bees in a human/bee pyramid.

I even took a photo. (It's a bit out of focus, but you can see them.)

Is this normal? Is it just the after effects of a hard day in the hot sun? They are moving slowly around. The other hive has a few bees near the entrance too (which I take as reassurance).

Comments from experienced bee keepers welcome.

 

[Alabamaeee]

As we're been so short of hot weather, it might seem like a strange question.

But I've been away all day, just got back c.9.30pm, at a time when all the bees have usually gone to bed. Only to find LOTS lying dormant on the landing board in front of the hive. So dormant I thought they were dead! After my panic stopped, I did notice they were very slowly moving into the hive.

Has anyone else observed similar behaviour?

What does it mean?

Should I be rigging a sunshade above the hive?

Had the same panic a couple of weeks ago. Got to the apiary, noticed fresh tractor tracks in the barley, immediately think "spraying". Get to the lives and the Pa*£ns landing boards on the poly hives are completely covered by inanimate bees. Came back after sundown and they were waking up from their siesta

Who said it's a relaxing hobby!


BTW JD they are just "chilling out" after a hot day.

 

[Queens59]

Completely normal - jd101k200 in this heat would you want to share a room with 30,000+ brothers and sisters??? Imagine the moaning...

 

[jd101k2000]

Point taken. I have one kid brother and that was enough! Thanks for the reassurance.

 

[beebreeder]

it can get like this if it stays really hot and its a strong colony

 

[beebreeder]

And yes they went into a full box the following day to give them space

 

[madasafish]

Insulated hives and roof solve the issue. Never seen bearding and all my hives have only one open entrance - a hole 1.5cms in diameter.

 

[user 6228]

Insulated hives and roof solve the issue. Never seen bearding and all my hives have only one open entrance - a hole 1.5cms in diameter.

15mm (1.7 cm2) seems a bit extreme. 1.5 inches (11.4 cm2 ) maybe

 

[pargyle]

I just went down at midnight to check that the girls were in bed. (OK I'm a new beek and a bit obsessive.)

I was surprised to see the dirty stop-outs at the entrance of the hive... like bees in a human/bee pyramid.
QUOTE]

In the same place as you ... I always have a look when I do a last check around the garden to make sure hens all closed up and OK. Well after dark normally. My bees are doing exactly the same at present - and my hive is a long hive with the entrance at the top.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Don't see it very often with the type of entrance I use - but yesterday evening the largest hive was roaring, drying out the nectar they'd collected, bees on the left hand side of the landing board in a row, backsides pointing out fanning, assuming that there was the same happening on the right hand side inside the entrance fanning air inwards - apian air conditioning! Unfortunately the photos didn't turn out well enough - I'll try again tonight

 

[itma]

Insulated hives and roof solve the issue. Never seen bearding and all my hives have only one open entrance - a hole 1.5cms in diameter.

I'm sure that insulation moderates the daytime excess, but I was rather surprised to note my poly last night. (currently BHS omf and roof, Payns 14x12 + 4 supers, rather full of bees if not honey)
The undershot 'Dartington' entrance had a "3 fists+" sized cluster in the entrance. Hive was humming gently.

They do it in insulated hives as well ...

 

[madasafish]

My reply cheated. I should have added 30C is rare here...

 

[user 6228]

I'm sure that insulation moderates the daytime excess, but I was rather surprised to note my poly last night. (currently BHS omf and roof, Payns 14x12 + 4 supers, rather full of bees if not honey)
The undershot 'Dartington' entrance had a "3 fists+" sized cluster in the entrance. Hive was humming gently.

They do it in insulated hives as well ...

but not in REALLY insulated hives...
the accumulation under the overhang I think is there for other reasons. I have those accumulations under overhangs on the PIR hives at times as well as the BHS but not directly in response to temperature or crowding

 

[Finman]

.
Honeybee has developed in Africa. But your National Bee has developed after last Ice Age on Snowdown's tundra. That is the difference.

 

[user 6228]

.
Honeybee has developed in Africa. But your National Bee has developed after last Ice Age on Snowdown's tundra. That is the difference.

The same way the cold adapted white north european ****-sapiens come from Africa, who fade in Africa's heat when they get off the plane in Lagos.

 

[Finman]

The same way the cold adapted white north european ****-sapiens come from Africa, who fade in Africa's heat when they get off the plane in Lagos.

What a waste that gene mapping.

.