Author Topic: The water logged dancing swarm (Read 1952 times)

To Bee Or Not To Bee · « **on:** May 01, 2006, 12:39:31 am »

This morning I got a call for a swarm that was hanging in a tree for two or three days. We have been getting alot of rain these few days and when I caught the swarm they did not moving very much at all. I thought they were half drowned. I kept them in a cardboard box for an hour in the sun till they started to move around and act like bees a bit more. Thy went in to the nuc real easy but I saw something different. One bee was doing the waggle dance and then another then 4 or 5 doing the dance on the front entry board . What was going on? Were they telling the other bees about the new real estate was or were they just danceing for joy?
John

Understudy · « **Reply #1 on:** May 01, 2006, 12:46:34 am »

They are debating how many times they should sting you.

Actually I would be intrigued by the answer to this.

Sincerely,
Brendhan

Jerrymac · « **Reply #2 on:** May 01, 2006, 01:23:10 am »

I have seen a swarm on the side of a house that was being built. The outside wall was just OSB board at this time. There were several waggle dances going on. I wondered if they were discussing a new home location.

randydrivesabus · « **Reply #3 on:** May 01, 2006, 06:32:45 am »

they might have been making fun of the silly ways people build.

Michael Bush · « **Reply #4 on:** May 01, 2006, 09:17:52 am »

Even a swarm has to eat. So it might be they are informing others of a nectar source. It's also possible they are still looking for a home, since the scouts for a swarm do the waggle dance for that also. Normally the waggle is done on drawn comb, but of course, there isn't any yet. I would think they'd do it on the foundation though.