Strange 'posturing' by wild bees...

[Mike Tuggle]

 :? Just scoping out a tree for a trapout -- folks have serious allergies -- and I've noticed strange posturing around the two entrances.


There weren't that many there today but you can see how they were lined up, not seriously fanning but just sitting there in rows.  (There were actual rings of rows yesterday.)  It wasn't that hot so I don't thing they are trying to enhance the air-flow for cooling.

Does anyone have an idea about what's going on?

Thanks...

[AllenF]

They are washboarding.  You should look it up on youtube.   

[Mike Tuggle]

No, not "wash boarding."  They are not moving at all at least not as significantly as shown in the videos -- they're literally just sitting there in circles.

[greenbtree]

Thinking about "washboarding"?  Such a big hive that they have a LOT of guards and some need to be outside?

JC