Ball of bees

[carlosdacosta]

Yesterday morning I saw a ball of bees tightly clustered outside the hive. Temp is about 17 deg (Celcius) only. I’ve seen them beard outside on our rare hot sunny days when temp was more than 20, but it’s not that hot today and rainy. And this cluster is really tight.

I was out for the afternnoon, and when I came back at 5:30 the ball was gone and the hive activity looked normal (pollen coming in, bees flying in and out).

This morning the ball is back.

Is this pre-swarm activity? Anything I can/should do? Any thots on this appreciated.




Carlos

[Joe D]

I have noticed mine sometimes gather up before they get started in the morning.  In the afternoon it is a good bit hotter, and they may be several out in front, not bearding yet though. 




Joe

[Michael Bush]

It's just bearding.

http://bushfarms.com/beesfaqs.htm#bearding

[carlosdacosta]

Thanks. I thought that bearding was only for heat reasons. I now see that there are other causes.

[Michael Bush]

Here are a couple of booming hives in the summer, in Michael Palmer's apiary in Vermont:
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff61/frenchhill/VBAPDF2.jpg

[Michael Bush]

Here's another:
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff61/frenchhill/strongnortherncolonies.jpg

[duryeafarms]

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff61/frenchhill/strongnortherncolonies.jpg

If that's bearding, the one on the far right is Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top).