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Author Topic: Strange behavior by the bees  (Read 5209 times)

Offline Ocean

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Strange behavior by the bees
« on: August 02, 2005, 07:22:56 pm »
Hey everyone, past couple of days my bees are acting kinda strange.. they all bunch up outside, and go back and forth like they doing something, but i can't figure out what they are doing...

I also noticed that the bees that are doing this are relatively small compare to the once i first got.. so iam guessing its the new borns that just evolved..

I will get a camera and film what exactly are they doing... ( going back and forth on one spot )


what can it be?

Offline bassman1977

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Strange behavior by the bees
« Reply #1 on: August 02, 2005, 07:27:51 pm »
To be clear, are they going back and  forth in a bunch?  If there are a lot of bees that are not in a tight group, it could be just orientation flights that you are seeing.

I'm guesssing that's probably what it is considering you are seasoned in bees swarming (if I remember your posts correctly from earlier this year).
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Offline Jerrymac

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Strange behavior by the bees
« Reply #2 on: August 02, 2005, 08:05:53 pm »
This morning each of my hives had a few bees, not flying, but apeared to be scrubbing the wood where they stood. Then they would move a little and scrub some more.
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Offline bassman1977

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Strange behavior by the bees
« Reply #3 on: August 02, 2005, 08:08:03 pm »
Think you could bring them by my place?  My kitchen could always use a little cleaning.   :lol:  :lol:  :lol:
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Offline Ocean

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Strange behavior by the bees
« Reply #4 on: August 02, 2005, 08:48:16 pm »
ye thats what they are doing its like scrubbing back and forth back and forth...

i just inspected both hives and one hive had bees like i said scrubbing back and forth, the other just had some bees clustering outside... here are some pictures of both hives and videos...

Please clarify what this behavior really is, after looking at the videos

First 2 pictures are From BEEHIVE #1





Here is Hive #2






And here are the Videos they are Quicktime Format



http://s93163891.onlinehome.us/Eldars/Bees/Hive1.mov

http://s93163891.onlinehome.us/Eldars/Bees/Hive2.mov

Offline Kris^

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Strange behavior by the bees
« Reply #5 on: August 02, 2005, 09:20:52 pm »
They're "washboarding."  I don't think anyone really knows why they do it, but there are several theories.  I think it's just because there's not much to do in the hive right now and they have to work off their nervous energy.

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Offline Ocean

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Strange behavior by the bees
« Reply #6 on: August 03, 2005, 02:58:18 am »
when do you start feeding the bees syrup again?

Offline amymcg

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Strange behavior by the bees
« Reply #7 on: August 03, 2005, 08:12:02 am »
Ocean,

Once you have taken your honey for the year, you can feed and/or medicate. Up here in Massachusetts, that's pretty soon. Like in the next week.

Offline Michael Bush

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Strange behavior by the bees
« Reply #8 on: August 03, 2005, 10:41:37 am »
It's a group bee dance called the washboard.
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