Night Inspections?

[Kenson]

Well, it is the beginners section

So, before I venture down the garden in the middle of the dark (I should say I have good night vision and can basically "see in the dark"), I thought I'd ask the question.

Has anyone tried inspecting a hive at night? (Given that the air temp is say 14°C+)

I'm just wondering what the bees would do. I have searched the forum, and the net, and nobody mentions it, one way or the other.

 

[Anduril]

This is the only way you could do night inspections, (red light). https://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=16755

 

[beeno]

This is the only way you could do night inspections, (red light). https://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=16755

I am with Finman on this one. Very bad idea as bees don't like to be disturbed at night!

 

[colinc]

When I messed up as a new beek and had a swarm which work prevented me from dealing with in daylight, I hived a swarm in the dark from a cardboard box. Swarms are supposed to be mellow but they went mental. They are placid bees too.


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[Anduril]

I am with Finman on this one. Very bad idea as bees don't like to be disturbed at night!

They stick to your clothing as well. In Beecraft a while back, I remember reading about an indoor training apiary using red light.

 

[colinc]

I don't get much following either but they followed me round for 15 minutes before they left me alone too.


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[B+.]

This is the only way you could do night inspections, (red light). https://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=16755

Michael Collier makes his mating nucs up in a shed at the bottom of the apiary under a red light (darkroom light, if anyone can remember those). I've never done it that way myself, but, he claimed that they behaved as though they were still inside the hive.

 

[Plenty of honey]

Apart from agreeing with Finny, I've been in hives in the dark and if you've done it once you probably wont do it again. The bees become nightmare crawlers, the crawl up your arms and also under things, on your suit legs etc. you come inside afterwards looking like a cast from the film swarm.
If you read Practical beekeeping by David Cramp, he details how he was stung more from moving bees at night, than any other time. Just releasing a queen from a cut out in the dark gave me a few kisses, not any more!
In France here there a few beekeepers that Inspect "under the light of the moon!" Weird!!!!!

 

[Heather]

Night time bee keeping... risking a drubbing there...

 

[Poly Hive]

Apart from the above sage words the reason your research showed nothing is because no one with any sense does it and so don't write about it.

KISS

PH

 

[Karsal]

DON'T DO IT!!!

I opened one of my so called placid colonies a couple of years ago one evening after dark. They came out en-mass and attacked me for the whole 20 yards as I ran up the path to my car!
Never again

 

[MartinL]

Well, it is the beginners section . . . . . . . . . .

So it is, nearly fell foul of that!

I should say I have good night vision and can basically "see in the dark" .

Nobody can "See in the dark" not even bats! Felines, nocturnal creatures can see better in low light but dark is dark. You need some source of light.
Remember that the bees also, can not see in the dark so won't fly but will crawl, feeling their way forward to seek out and repel the invader, (YOU)!
This will mean they'll all find the smallest chink in your PPE and investigate!

I thought I'd ask the question. . . . . .

I think you already have the answer. My question is why would you want to do it in the first place???

I'm just wondering what the bees would do. I have searched the forum, and the net, and nobody mentions it, one way or the other.

Why not give it a go and let us all know what happens?
You could be a celebrity on here before your 10th post

 

[Millet]

So it is, nearly fell foul of that!


Nobody can "See in the dark" not even bats! Felines, nocturnal creatures can see better in low light but dark is dark. You need some source of light.
Remember that the bees also, can not see in the dark so won't fly but will crawl, feeling their way forward to seek out and repel the invader, (YOU)!
This will mean they'll all find the smallest chink in your PPE and investigate!

Spiders can but moles have trouble infact they have trouble seeing in the daylight.. , the OP must be Peter Parker me thinks..

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Whether you can see in the dark or not - inspecting when every flying bees is tucked up in the hive is going to be an absolute nightmare.
And they do not like it, believe you me!!

 

[For want of a better word]

Our French cousins inspect bees with a red light after sunset.... loonies if you ask me... but try it and let us know the outcome.

Nos da

 

[Millet]

Our French cousins inspect bees with a red light after sunset.... loonies if you ask me... but try it and let us know the outcome.

Nos da

The garlic and onion leaching from there skin might help

 

[colinc]

The garlic and onion leaching from there skin might help

Those that truly see in the dark are repelled by garlic

 

[Millet]

Those that truly see in the dark are repelled by garlic

That might be why the Froggies can do nightly inspections.

 

[Teemore]

In the late evening, you will find that many bees prefer to climb/crawl - usually up your beesuit/trousers. The ones you dislodge from the crown board and frames will test how well sealed up your bee suit is.
Sometimes you have no option but to check bees in less than favourable conditions but be prepared for a warm reception.

 

[Griffo]

I am in the process of moving one of my hives a couple of feet to one side to create space for another one. I thought maybe it would be good to move the hive at dusk last night. The bees went absolutely mad, went into immediate attack mode. I had on a pair of shorts under my bee suit and somehow the belt came undone and the shorts fell down while I was retreating down the garden. The thought that there was only a thin later of bee suit between my backside and those angry bees added some extra impetus to my rather awkward run.