Landing Board

[Raceyboy]

Hi, just a quick question, is a landing board neccessary? Also i've noticed that some hives have a coloured disc, whats all that about?

 

[viridens]

No they are not essential, and for example are not standard on many top bar hives which often just use plain round holes.
There are various types of disc entrance on the market where you dial the size you want.
Some beekeepers use coloured discs, patterns or patches of colour to help bees differentiate between hives if they are spaced close together.
I like a landing board because it gives more of a chance to see what bees are carrying etc.

 

[Rich0909]

Certainly not necessary - I don't have them and the bees are quite happy landing on the hive front or flying straight in but there are a few tired bees that fall to the ground and then have to fly back up once recovered so they may be useful.

I believe the colours are to help the bees identify their own hive when there are several in an apiary.

 

[BILL.HEARD]

I use old slate roof tiles it keeps herbage away from the entrance and they can be picked up for next to nothing.

 

[psafloyd]

I use old slate roof tiles it keeps herbage away from the entrance and they can be picked up for next to nothing.

Isn't slate a bit chilly for their delicate tootsies, Bill?

 

[Tom Bick]

No not essential but are a help to the bees and also it is nice for us to look at with bees on a landing board.

 

[Ed Woods]

Spalshed out on a pitched roof and stand with angled landing board so my No 1 National hive looks like a WBC - bees ignore the board and land on the inch bit of floor that sticks out

 

[Davelin]

No not essential but are a help to the bees and also it is nice for us to look at with bees on a landing board.

 

[Winker]

I have one on a hive the bees ignore

 

[DorsetB]

I seem to remember, and don't quote me on this because I can't remember the source, that bees don't actually need a landing board, but if they do have one, it is used more to take off than to land.

Can anyone confirm or deny this? It did seem counter-intuitive at the time!

 

[Swarm]

All my hives have landing boards. I guess it depends on the bee or the situation, some use it and some don't.

 

[John M]

I seem to remember, and don't quote me on this because I can't remember the source, that bees don't actually need a landing board, but if they do have one, it is used more to take off than to land.

Can anyone confirm or deny this? It did seem counter-intuitive at the time!

Following my extensive observations of each of my 2 hives

Most of them land on the boards but by no means all. Virtually all take a stroll out onto the board then take off. Some after waiting a few seconds.

John

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

There's a wild/feral colony not far from me in a chapel wall the entrance is a narrow vertical crack, they land on a smooth vertical slab of stone (gravestone set in a wall) mooch around a while, get into a queue and walk in, so obviously a horizontal entrance area isn't essential

 

[BCBEE]

I like a landing board so that after a 3 mile flight the bees dont have to spend more enegry hovering waiting to get into the entrance that may be partially blocked by other guard bees. they can land some inches away and walk in whilst getting their breff back.

Bit like running a marathon and then finding the line blocked by photographers so you couldnt cross

 

[Nose Ma]

Just popped out to watch mine. Many (85%ish) leave from the entrance without touching the landing board. About 40% of incoming bees land on the board, more if the entrance is congested (I don't have mine fully open).

On another thread the landing board was suggested as a way to stop bees clustering under an OMF. I have an OMF, bees don't tend to cluster under there. No idea if that's significant or not.

Finally - it's asthetically more pleasing, and I'd like to think the bees like it.

 

[moby]

Landing board sometimes helps you see what the bees are bringing into the hive

 

[beeatshellards]

Landing board sometimes helps you see what the bees are bringing into the hive

I like them . I also watch also what the bees take out of the hive

 

[moby]

I like them . I also watch also what the bees take out of the hive

 

[Raceyboy]

Just been watching mine, they all use the landing board, great to see them make their way into the hive ...............

 

[Otleybee]

I like them . I also watch also what the bees take out of the hive

They are not essential to the bees by any means but I think that they add real value to the beekeeper who spends time watching bees. You can see so much more if the bees wander about on the landing board for a bit whilst landing or taking off.

I am also quite sure that they help the tired bee returning to the hive. You can almost see the relief when they hit the board instead of having to hover and aim for the entrance.