thats weird!!

[mark s]

hi all
just stopped raining over here and so went out to check on the little ladies and about 9 or 10 of them are outside fanning at the entrance like crazy,nearly been at it for 30 mins now,can anyone explain wot they may be doing,as ive not seen them do that since ive had them

 

[JCBrum]

Maybe there's a few foraging bees still out there sheltering from the rain, and the home bees are doing their 'lighthouse' thing ??

 

[BKF Admin]

Do you have Apiguard in the hive ?

 

[mark s]

no mark ive not,just been out there again and they are still at it,could it just be very warm in there ?

 

[MrB]

could be for vetilation or scent marking

 

[BKF Admin]

I have often seen it this time of year,rather than fanning like when they swarm(fanning at the entrance)they tend to hang around the ends of the landing board fanning.

Anyone got a copy of "At the hive entrance" they can have a quick look at?

 

[MrB]

thats where i got my suggestion from

 

[MrB]

Fanners at work
The bees do not only control the degree of humidity
within the hive, but also the temperature when it is
too high, by creating draughts from one to another
and from the inside of the hive to the outside.
Beware! There must be no confusion between fanning
for ventilation and fanning for scent-marking of
the hive. In the latter case the abdomen is raised and
one can see between the last two tergites a small shiny
gland, the Nassonov gland, which is used to diffuse
scent signals.


Taken from "At the hive entrance"

 

[mark s]

i think they are fanning to create draughts then as there abdomens are not stuck in the air,they are just sat there with there rear legs out-stretched,and fanning like mad

 

[JCBrum]

Probably getting the water content down, in the stores.

 

[BKF Admin]

Thanks mrB for looking that up

 

[mark s]

thanx all
the little darlings have gone to bed now