Can anyone explain this behavior?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuU4KHarnVsThe video isn't too good (sorry; I don't know how to work the camera properly), but the bees are all bunched up on the entrance board. At a few points they're crawling over each other. Are they fighting? I don't know what that looks like, but what I see looks relatively mild.
I'm a relatively new beek (2nd year) in central Mass. I have 2 hives; this behavior is occurring in the
stronger one. At the other hive-- which I'm feeding now-- things are normal. But there's definitely some excitement at this hive.
This hive has 13-14 good full frames, excellent brood pattern. From a nuc that I hived in early May. The state inspector was just here last week and thought it looked strong and healthy, so it's not just my beginner's opinion.
We've had lots of rain recently, and not much foraging. Yesterday, when I noticed this behavior beginning, it was warm and humid-- maybe ventilation could be an issue?-- but it was the first day in a while that the bees could forage. Last night I checked this hive after dark, and the bees were crowded on the entrance board-- relatively calm, although there was still a bit of a buzz. It's just starting raining again this morning-- shortly after I took the video-- and the crowd has dispersed.
I'd suspect robbing, but:
- why wouldn't robbers go for the weaker hive?
- I don't see any flights around the hive; all the action is right at the front door
- I don't see bees scuttling back and forth sideways looking for openings
- I don't see any dead bees, nor bees on the ground around the hive
- they aren't at all aggressive-- didn't bother me at all when I leaned over to take this video
- it's not getting more (or less) intense: about the same level of activity for a day now
Can anyone enlighten me? Thanks.