Question regarding "Landing boards."

[Amari]

Super video - nice views of bees fanning at the entrance.

 

[Itchy]

I use carpet tiles, stops weeds at entrance

 

[user 6228]

has anyone tried a funnel like entrance? it may be that the bees are reluctant to touch down in the open next to the hive, as predators are likely to congregate there.

 

[Quis Custodiet]

has anyone tried a funnel like entrance? it may be that the bees are reluctant to touch down in the open next to the hive, as predators are likely to congregate there.

Interesting hypothesis. I recall seeing pictures of, I think, Italian hives which had a porch like structure at the entrance. The purpose was not clear, the assumption being that it was to give shade, but perhaps it also served the the above function.

Just checked, there are examples on the Lega site.

 

[Zante]

Interesting hypothesis. I recall seeing pictures of, I think, Italian hives which had a porch like structure at the entrance. The purpose was not clear, the assumption being that it was to give shade, but perhaps it also served the the above function.

Just checked, there are examples on the Lega site.

Yep, those are the quintessential bee hive from my childhood memories, in the same way that the WBC is for British people.

I have also seen hives described as "nomadic" without the porch thing, but just the straight box.

 

[user 6228]

Interesting hypothesis. I recall seeing pictures of, I think, Italian hives which had a porch like structure at the entrance. The purpose was not clear, the assumption being that it was to give shade, but perhaps it also served the the above function.

Just checked, there are examples on the Lega site.

can you give a link...
the idea was driven by .. watching the bees , they take care to go directly to the entrance or go an land elsewhere then reattempt... I've been adjusting the non standard landing facilities underneath our hives and they do seem to like a wider yet covered from above spot to land.
a tree knot hole may make a better target for bee landing as its likely to have a taper and its round aperture more easily discerned.
A variation on the dartington design to give a covered landing spot is a easily constructed
human built alternative

 

[Finman]

.
There exist all kind if veranda and tunnel floor systems.

Tunnel floor, 10 cm high, is bad, because bees draw there drone combs. And that works as varroa factory.



.

 

[Quis Custodiet]

can you give a link...

Try this - http://www.legaitaly.com/en/

 

[Zante]

can you give a link...

 

[BeeJayBee]

Is it flexible either way on whether they [landing boards] should be flat or angled down and away from the entrance?

From this research http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-12/tcob-fmo121709.php

the team realised that bees are almost tailor made to land on surfaces inclined at angles of 60deg. to the horizontal​

 

[oliver90owner]

The under floor entrance of the Dartington was good.

Yes makes boxes higher, but still stackable with a bit of thought.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

three or four inches higher, neither here nor there really, no though needed to stack the hives, one box goes on top of another - all my hives have underfloor entrances, the four inch ones have the added benefit of stopping crosswinds under the OMF.
Don't think I'd go back to standard floors whether I decided to go OMF or solid