Close the top entrances after dark and open the bottom entrance. The next morning when they find the top closed they will find the bottom entrance and orient on it.
That is certainly true - some research has been done (but can't put my finger on it now) showing that light entering the hive plays a big part in the bees' choice of exit.
A more obvious sign of a dislocation to their usual routine behaviour will be when foragers return to the hive. They leave without realising that the entrance position has changed, and so will return to exactly the same entrance as before. When finding that this entrance no longer exists, or is now sealed, most will then form a bunch at that position. However, a few will begin circling around trying to find another way in, and when they do, the others will gradually 'catch-on' as well. Sometimes it takes 20 minutes or half an hour to realise there's another entrance, and returning foragers will continue to home-in on the old entrance position for the rest of the day, and a few even into a second day. Sometimes bees set up 'fanning stations' to waft hive odour outwards to help guide other bees in, sometimes they don't.
The amount of disruption depends largely on how far apart the entrances are/were. A foot or less can be adjusted-to very quickly, 2 or 3 feet takes a little longer, as does moving the entrance (say) around to the other side of the hive, or moving the hive itself by that distance - but - they
will adjust eventually.
It can be a little frustrating watching them, as there's a natural desire to 'lend a hand' - but there's nothing much you can do, they just have to figure this out for themselves - which of course they will.
LJ
Topic: converting to bottom entrence (Read 1298 times)