Fancy Hive Paint - Thoughts?

[FrogPond]

This might seem like a silly question, but here goes...

Does anyone think that painting the supers with images will confuse or otherwise impact the bees? My kids LOVE painting on the front of the supers, creating images that make the bee yard something like a "work of art." Frankly it helps my daughters "engage" in the hobby and I want to encourage their involvement as much as possible.

On the other hand, I wonder if I might not be confusing the bees! Everyone seems to use a solid coat of paint - often whatever is lying about. I guess we are a little fussier, and with only a few hives, we can afford to put the time on on little details like this.

Any thoughts? Will we confuse our bees?

[Finsky]

In ex Jugoslavia there was an old art form where beehives was painted with paintings. I bought  two paits.

One issue was when Devil sharpens wifes tongue with grindstone.

Another was when 3 men try to take milk from cow. One keep horns, one keeps tail and one keep cow's nipples.

[Jerrymac]

Your bees will have no problems.

[Yarra_Valley]

I thinking, could this possibly help the bees differentiate between hives to help limit drifting? Do bees recognise the shape of their hive, or the colour, or both?

[Michael Bush]

Yes bees recognize color (although red is hard for them to distinguish from some other colors) and yes they recognize shapes.  It will cut down on drifting and help when queens are mating and trying to find their way back to their hive.

[bassman1977]

I read that they can't see black (giving possible reason to the fact that they won't fly around at night), but I'm sure that as long as the boxes aren't completely black, you won't have an issue.

[Miss Chick-a-BEE]

I don't think it'll confuse the bees, and I think it looks really cute. I'd have loved to do some of that myself with my hives - such as ivy up the side, or sunflowers.

My understanding about the colors they see - the see black, and I think they see things like red as black. The don't like dark colors - such as the color of a bear. :) My bees will buzz me slightly aggressively when I wear dark clothes just in my yard, 400 feet from the hives.

Beth

[Joseph Clemens]

This is some of the color I use in my primary apiary. I think your colorful paintings are so much more interesting.

http://cordovan-honeybee.com/images/miscellaneous/Primary_Apiary.jpg

[Jerrymac]

I wear blue all the time. Sometimes dark, sometimes faded, but the bees don't seem to care. I see no difference in the bees from when I wear a white bee suit.

[Joseph Clemens]

If you wish to see how some bees can respond to dark colored clothing, just come on over to my place. While you get the experience, forgive me if I stay inside.

:) :D

[banjojohn]

Pretty neat colors and shade set up, Joseph. Mine are 200 ft. from the house, if they were closer I might color mine up, but only the horses see them besides me.

[manowar422]

My kids LOVE painting on the front of the supers, creating images that make the bee yard something like a "work of art." Frankly it helps my daughters "engage" in the hobby and I want to encourage their involvement as much as possible.

Good for you FrogPond! Anything to get the kids involved.
My Granddaughter is curious, but not brave enough yet.

My own personal experience with colors affecting bee behavoir
has to do with wearing colors that resemble animal fur???

On our most recent hive inspection, my son & I had to break
down the hive all the way to install a screened bottom board.
Every thing was going normally until I cracked the seal on the
very bottom brood box, when it popped, the guard bees came
out lookin' for trouble :shock:

The bees ignored me and flocked to my son,
about 10 bees landed on each of his gloves.
He got stung on the finger and had two more stingers in the gloves :x
Any guesses as to the color of his gloves?
They were dark BROWN cotton work gloves :o

No one seems to have anything bad to say about art work on
hive boxes so let'em paint to their hearts content. Don't limit
them to the fronts, let'm paint sides, backs and tops too!

[SherryL]

I do alot of decorative painting, and have toyed with the idea of doing 'bee stuff' (skeps, ect.) on my hives, but then I realized there are times I may switch out boxes between hives, or like this spring, do cutdowns, and then the design would get 'messed up' per se (if it went more than one box high) - also, would the bees possibly think that the 'old box' at their location, now in a new location is still 'their' box?  Or, are they more into the actual location than the color or design on their hive?

Let your kids know their design looks great!

sherry

[FrogPond]

Well I am glad to hear the bees are not likely to be confused. That eliminates the "technical" worry.  :shock:

As for all the kind comments - thank you. I will let the kid read these notes. I strongly recommend spending $20 on brushes and paint and letting people in your life go crazy! We have a blast every time we paint, and then every time I work the bees I think of the people who helped in their own way.
 :mrgreen:
No need for grand designs... I am sure the supers will get "mixed up" over time, but the love never seems to wash away. And how cool is that?

If anyone else does stuff like this - take pictures and share!