Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => DISEASE & PEST CONTROL => Topic started by: majornut on September 12, 2010, 09:22:16 pm

Title: Bees in Hot tub
Post by: majornut on September 12, 2010, 09:22:16 pm

I have a salt water hot tub and every other day, there are hundreds of bees that I have to clean out of it. I can see them flying from the colony, onto the lid, drinking the water and flying back. The ones that are dead, are in the hot tub itself.

Any solutions?

Title: Re: Bees in Hot tub
Post by: AllenF on September 12, 2010, 09:52:37 pm

Get a bee proof cover for it. 

Title: Re: Bees in Hot tub
Post by: lenape13 on September 13, 2010, 06:29:51 am

Get them their own hot tub?  Actually, you need to provide them with a better source for water.  I use a bird bath and three chicken waters set up near the hives to provide them with water.  That way they leave tne neighbors' swimming pools alone.

Title: Re: Bees in Hot tub
Post by: Hethen57 on September 13, 2010, 08:20:17 pm

I had this problem real bad in the Spring...even with lots of other fresh water sources that were closer to the bees.  I would have to clean out hundreds a day...most would drink the moisture from the top of the cover and the seams, but the ones who found a way through a gap all ended up in the water, clogging the pump grates and the filter.  I had to get a new cover that sealed better and it seems to have stopped the problem.