Using glass around a small apiary to make the bees fly up

[Falesh]

I have a hive in the back garden and am going to add another two hives to it next year. Since 3 hives is going to mean quite a lot of bees I would like to make them fly up over head height so the rest of the garden can be enjoyed by those who aren't as comfortable with bees as I am.

My plan is to screen the hives with a 6 foot or so barrier of glass, kind of like a conservatory with no roof (and only 3 sides since a hedge covers the other). Can anyone think of a reason why this may not work?

Cheers!

 

[ratcatcher]

why use glass????

green netting does the trick

http://youtu.be/li9obrnaRZE

this was put up to stop them bumping into allotment holders,

I will add, I've had 3 hives in garden, only two now, and now one inc neighbours have been stung

 

[Suzi Q]

As ratcatcher, netting works fine. Might get a bit hot behind glass?

 

[Falesh]

Basically I want very good visibility while watching the bees through the screen, think of it as an observation apiary , and for it to look nice too. I thought about the heat but with the glass only 6 or 7 foot tall and with no roof, and it being spacious enough, I can't see the air being still enough inside to heat up much more then the outside. As soon as it does heat up it will just go up into the sky anyway.

 

[MartinL]

My plan is to screen the hives with a 6 foot or so barrier of glass, kind of like a conservatory with no roof (and only 3 sides since a hedge covers the other). Can anyone think of a reason why this may not work?

Cheers!

What happens when they return???

 

[REDWOOD]

Interesting to see what will happen, my guess is they will bump into it

 

[Falesh]

Bumping into it is a concern. The question is would the bees be able to memories a path that goes above the glass and then down to their hive. There would be window frames and wooden beams for them to see and remember in the construction which should help. One way around that if they are incapable of doing so is to add clear ultraviolet paint/film to the glass so that they can see it but that we cannot see.

 

[ijcooper]

One way around that if they are incapable of doing so is to add clear ultraviolet paint/film to the glass so that they can see it but that we cannot see.

Maybe they'd see it better if it was polarised? Just a guess!

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Bumping into it is a concern. The question is would the bees be able to memories a path that goes above the glass and then down to their hive.

I would say no - watch any insect trying to get out of a window, even when the top light is open they will still keep bumping against the glass and wondering what the hell is going on.
You'll have bees leaving the hive crashing into the glass - and any that manage to get out will bounce3 against the glass coming out. Recipe for a hive full of extremely distressed and pi$$ed off bees.
Seems you want the bees without the inconvenience of bees in the garden?

 

[Falesh]

I would say no - watch any insect trying to get out of a window, even when the top light is open they will still keep bumping against the glass and wondering what the hell is going on.
You'll have bees leaving the hive crashing into the glass - and any that manage to get out will bounce3 against the glass coming out. Recipe for a hive full of extremely distressed and pi$$ed off bees.
Seems you want the bees without the inconvenience of bees in the garden?

Nope, I want, and already have, bees in the garden full stop. I do however also want to make the best use of the garden too and, if this plan works, this would be great for that. With regards to bumping; shouldn't this be solved, if it is an issue, by applying clear UV paint/film to the glass or do you not think that would work?

The reason I was wondering if it would work without that is because of how precisely the bees learn where to go to get to the specific point in space that is the entrance to the hive. So I would assume they would bump a lot when they are learning the location but then they might take their visual cues from the wooden frame at the top of the windows and then angle down to the hive itself and vice versa on the way out.

 

[MartinL]

Interesting to see what will happen, my guess is they will bump into it

And deposit cluster bombs of pollen all over it at the same time.

My gues is that your neighbours will be a little less dazed than your bees, but even more p!55ed off.

 

[Falesh]

And deposit cluster bombs of pollen all over it at the same time.

My gues is that your neighbours will be a little less dazed than your bees, but even more p!55ed off.

Why would my neighbours be p!55ed off? And since you say the bees will be dazed could you explain why you think the UV paint/film over the glass wouldn't work?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Why would my neighbours be p!55ed off?

Loads of dazed and utterly confused bees flying about getting tetchier and tetchier?

could you explain why you think the UV paint/film over the glass wouldn't work?

A better plan would be to paint the glass green or white. If you want to watch the bees flying out of the hive either leave enough space inside the barrier to put your deckchair or if you're worried about the bees reducing your enjoyment of the garden, put your deckchair inside a greenhouse, keep the door shut to ensure no bees will bother you (remember to open the door before you walk out of it though)

 

[user 6228]

....shouldn't this be solved, if it is an issue, by applying clear UV paint/film to the glass or do you not think that would work?

...t.

try it with a small piece close to the hive... it depends on the UV response of the bees and the reflectance/asorbance of the film/paint. Sounds like a good proposal for research project

 

[Falesh]

Why would my neighbours be p!55ed off?

Loads of dazed and utterly confused bees flying about getting tetchier and tetchier?

So you also believe that bees would bump into UV coated glass. Why do you believe they would do this when they can clearly see UV and so the glass should be a solid block of colour to them? I am perfectly willing to state that I am not totally sure it would work either, though I don't see why it wouldn't. That uncertainty is one of the reasons I posted this thread.

A better plan would be to paint the glass green or white.

I think you have failed to read about, or perhaps understand, the basic idea behind this project. I want to use glass because it is transparent, i.e. it is see through. Painting it would impair this to such a degree that I am fairly confident I would no longer be able to see through it. I'm not sure why this is hard for you to understand, but hey everyone has a weakness I guess.

 

[Falesh]

try it with a small piece close to the hive... it depends on the UV response of the bees and the reflectance/asorbance of the film/paint. Sounds like a good proposal for research project

That's a good idea. Even though this project shouldn't cost that much it would still cost more then I would wish to write off on a failed experiment.

 

[ratcatcher]

Can anyone think of a reason why this may not work?

Cheers!

I cant see why you asked in the first place, as all replies have said it's a crazy idea, yet you seem to want to go ahead anyway, your then saying, the amount it will cost is an important factor, as you don't want to waste money, surely its either a go for it and see, or try something else

turning the entrance so it faces the hedge at about 12" away, will make the bee's fly up and away and it wont cost you a penny
add the green netting, stretched tight on a frame is nearly see through, and hives/bees can still be observed, and made to what ever height you want, cost is minimal, find someone on a building site,

glass idea= un proven, costly, you'll need a window cleaner, seems you want it, go for it what ever the cost

 

[ijcooper]

Do let us know the results of your interesting experiment!

 

[user 6228]

Also remember glass in certain light conditions can appear less than transperant to humans.
You will need to be part of the experiment not just the bees

 

[alanf]

Glass walls need cleaning. Solid barriers create eddies over the top and would have to take quite a lot of wind pressure. They would need a lot of support to stop heavy glass falling on your hive. Unless you have old shop windows or similar it would also be expensive. I'd probably look for a light mesh as less trouble. However, your choice.

You are looking for a coating that blocks UV but transmits visible light? Might need some research into which wavelengths you're interested in but ordinary glass blocks most of the shorter wavelength UV. Even though insects fly into windows from inside, they don't generally fly into them from the outside so much. There would probably be enough contrast with the open sky to see there is "something" there and learn the route around it. A pane of glass leant across the entrance is one of the possibilities to put off robbing wasps, so bees have coped with it.