Mass of bees flying around then all poured into the hive?

[Etton]

I visited my hives at 3pm and there was a mass of bees outside one hive, hundreds! All over the front of the hive and masses flying around then suddenly they all poured back into the hive en mass. Next minute hive just as normal. Thoughts anyone?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Is this the hive with a virgin queen? could be a mating flight - bit late in the day but hey, they're bees they don't read the BBKA handbook

 

[Zante]

Is this the hive with a virgin queen? could be a mating flight - bit late in the day but hey, they're bees they don't read the BBKA handbook

What do you mean they don't read the BBKA book? I got them a copy each! What am I going to do with them now?

 

[Finman]

.
IT was normal cleansing flight, which they do at afternoon.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

b*llox

 

[chrisb]

b*llox

I take it that is part of the BBKA handbook also

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I take it that is part of the BBKA handbook also

It's all of it!!!

 

[chrisb]

It's all of it!!!

glad you stated that I feel much better when I take no notice of it now

 

[Finman]

b*llox

There is no mating swarms.
.the Queen makes several mating flights in a day.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

whatever

 

[TryingToLetThemBee]

I visited my hives at 3pm and there was a mass of bees outside one hive, hundreds! All over the front of the hive and masses flying around then suddenly they all poured back into the hive en mass. Next minute hive just as normal. Thoughts anyone?

Orientation. Usually about that height of sun in my hives (bit later on the clock nearer midsummer). First time I saw it, I had been bashing a root about 12 feet form the hives and panicked that I had triggered a swarm.

 

[The Drone Ranger]

You might have a look and see if your queen is still there and marked
If she was injured or lost in a previous inspection you will see recently hatched Qcells
Possibly if there are new sealed Qcells perhaps you have had a late swarm
It's hard to say without being there

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[jenkinsbrynmair]

You might have a look and see if your queen is still there and marked
If she was injured or lost in a previous inspection you will see recently hatched Qcells
Possibly if there are new sealed Qcells perhaps you have had a late swarm
It's hard to say without being there

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he has one hive and a caught swarm - both suspected as headed by virgins.

If the OP observed the bees suddenly and en masse pouring back into the hive doesn't sound like orientation to me - neither does the bees being 'all over the front' of the hive - looks more like they were queueing up to get back in.
Orientaton flights last a little while and is usually just clouds of bees milling around the front of the hive all facing the entrance.

Now a mating swarm looks rather like the ones in the photos which i took whilst witmessing one a few years ago

 

[The Drone Ranger]

I see
I just read from the start of the thread so didn't have all the background
I usually keep my nose out of your forum
Thanks for the update

 

[beeno]

It could be an aborted swarm attempt i.e. the queen did not go with them. Any chance of having missed a queen cell?
Or is this the hive you left two QC in?

 

[busybee53]

Could be a late swarm attempt with a clipped queen. The rest of the bees return when the clipped queen falls down and the bees can't find her.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Could be a late swarm attempt with a clipped queen. The rest of the bees return when the clipped queen falls down and the bees can't find her.

According to another thread - OP has one hive which has swarmed and is now awaiting a virgin mating and a caught swarm which looks like its headed by a virgin as well

 

[djg]

Could be a late swarm attempt with a clipped queen. The rest of the bees return when the clipped queen falls down and the bees can't find her.

 

[Cussword]

I usually keep my nose out of your forum

Why?...


.

 

[The Drone Ranger]

Why?...


.

There is a tendency to ignore the original post and find issue with the previous reply instead
With 70 colonies to look after at the moment I am happy enough just to read the threads without offering opinions
This is post is off topic but since you ask I felt it polite to reply

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