Bees on underside of SBB

[DuaneB]

I noticed some bees flying from under the hive and went to see what was going on.  I noticed a small group of bees, huddled together, on the under side of the Screened Bottom Board.  Anyone have a clue as to why they are there???

I need to move this hive to a better, more bee friendly location.  Not sure what to do about the under-bees.  Can I brush them off with the bee brush?

[little john]

I noticed some bees flying from under the hive and went to see what was going on.  I noticed a small group of bees, huddled together, on the under side of the Screened Bottom Board.  Anyone have a clue as to why they are there???

Sure - they're trying to get in - and have got themselves stuck: they know where they want to go (into the hive), but can't figure out how to get in there ...

In order to save those bees - brush them off, and place some kind of closure over the slot, or whatever route they've been using to get themselves under the mesh.
LJ

[MikeyN.C.]

Had a friend beek , 2 years ago, he was cleaning out all his oil trays ( all ten, same time) while cleaning, this happened to all ten. We were scratching our heads. We brushed bees off and installed trays.  Good to go.

[iddee]

As said above, just run them off. Show them the way in by blocking the non-ways.

[Acebird]

Can I brush them off with the bee brush?

Pretty tough to do.  They are going to hang on like velcro.  If you want to save the bees pull the hive off the SBB turn it over an smack it on the ground.  When you put it back DO NOT let the bees get under the screen, EVER.

[chux]

One issue that pops up from time to time with screened bottom boards is that a queen returning from mating flights can get trapped under the screen like this. She undershoots the entrance but smells the colony from underneath. So she goes to the smell and finds herself trapped.

[NasalSponge]

One of the disadvantages of sbb.

[little john]

One issue that pops up from time to time ...

Where does this 'pop up' ?    I've never once heard of anyone reporting this, and I've never once had this happen to me.
LJ

[iddee]

I have found 3 swarms on other people's screen bottom boards this year. Whether it was for the above reason or not, it does look suspiciously so.

[paus]

This is what made me think of double screen bottom board that is bee proof.  MY GIRLS HAD STARTED COMB AND WAS FILLING IT.  My screens are 3.5 inches apart and I have never noticed any bees on the bottom screen.  I use the space between the screens to place a pan of  oil or water, this catches mites, and also  SHB and their larva.  The space between is bee proof with a drop door on the back for servicing.  In the hot summer I have overlooked an insulated board under the oil pan when I removed it the hive quietened down several Db.  In my area DSBB is the way to make the cooling of the hive less of a workload for the bees, plus pest control as a side benefit.

[sc-bee]

One issue that pops up from time to time ...

Where does this 'pop up' ?    I've never once heard of anyone reporting this, and I've never once had this happen to me.
LJ

Over the last few years on help pages and forums I have seen this mentioned not frequently but more than once. On these occasions comb building was started under the screen and a  queen found. And I recall at least once where there was a queen under the colony screen and one in the colony....

AmericasBeekeeper
04-03-2011, 08:11 PM
Bees will cluster under a screened bottom board just because of the smells. If you can close off the front, they will be less likely to stop under the hive. David Miksa stopped using open screened bottom boards when he lost too many mating queens returning under the hive. A 16 inch piece of wood can change their world.

[Van, Arkansas, USA]

Duane, your screen bottom board(sbb) a has a leak as discussed.  I have used sbb from 4 different mfg.  They all leak except for one, and it?s called Freeman Bottom Board.  The Freeman is built so tight the bees cannot enter or get beneath the screen.  It cost the most, but worth it to me.  Per Beemaster rules, I cannot state the price as that would be advertising.

I believe Jerry Freeman was the first to build and patent his sbb.

[little john]

Something about this doesn't add up ...

When a colony is first introduced to a box with an OMF - yes, then it can happen - because the bees don't know where their entrance is.  Likewise, if you suddenly change the entrance (as I do, when spinning the hive around on a turntable when using the Cloake Board method) - again it can happen, because the bees become confused.  Easy enough to fix in both cases with some form of closure.

But when a virgin queen goes out to mate, she doesn't do so on her own - there are bees with her on the outward trip, and often on the return journey too - and those bees aren't confused about where their entrance is.

I often see a large number of bees on the hive face, fanning away to help guide the queen in - after all, it's in the colony's interest to ensure a safe return - they've invested a lot of energy and resources into creating that queen.  My returning mated queens can even negotiate an anti-robbing screen, as well as find their way to the box entrance itself - no doubt with the assistance of 'entourage bees'.

I've never once had this kind of problem with a queen - and I've never heard of this happening until now.  Indeed, doesn't the lion's share of mating take place from mating nucs (?), and these either have no OMF or (in the case of mini-nuc boxes) a very token one - but I assume we're not talking about those tiny boxes here ...
LJ

[chux]

little john, I hear what you are saying. In theory, this shouldn't happen. In reality, from time to time it does happen. I have read of it happening in forums as has been said. I have also heard the testimony of a commercial beek in eastern nc who has seen it happen with his hives. It's rare, but it does happen. Out of thousands upon thousands of screened bottom board hives in this world, it does happen occasionally. Chances are, you won't see it in one of your hives, unless you are running a large operation. And probably won't hear about it unless you are reading lots of forums or talking to lots of beekeepers who represent lots of hives. The wider your circle, the more you hear. I would't expect to hear about this on a forum like beemaster where beekeepers from all over the world come together to share experiences. In the brief 6 years I've been keeping bees, I have had my hands in hundreds of hives. I continue to see new things that make me scratch my head and say, "That doesn't seem right." Just when you think you know what is going on, the bees will show you something you haven't seen and don't expect.   

[NasalSponge]

As a side note it is a very cool to see the mini-swarm escort a virgin queen from the hive! Spectacular sight.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

[Van, Arkansas, USA]

LJ{Likewise, if you suddenly change the entrance (as I do, when spinning the hive around on a turntable when using the Cloake Board method) - again it can happen, because the bees become confused.}

Good afternoon Lil John.  A turntable????  You think of everything ahead of time, well planned out, You are!!

I just created a cloak board hive, May first.  I called up a couple of buddies to do the lifting and turning the bottom hive.  A turn table would be great, one man operation, piece of cake, but I don?t have a turn table.  So back to the orthopedic doc I go or call up my good buddies to lift for me.  My back is not the greatest.
Blessings