I don't know if I'm saying this correctly and I'm not going to wake the wife to get my books, so I'll have to wing it.
My wife and I were in the back yard looking at what we hope to be a new property line and our blackberry bushes newly planted a couple weeks ago when she asked me about the bees. I took her over and explained that I was hoping that the top super, which has starter strips melted into the top bars will get drawn out quickly this spring. When I pulled the top covers and removed three frames to show her the deep brood box we noticed a lot of bees on top of the frames and on the bottom bars of the upper box fanning with their tails up in the air. I told her they do this a lot and they are exposing their nasanov (?) gland which is right next to their stinger and spreading the scent phermone throughout the hive.
What was curious was that they all had their stinger fully extended. Not just one or two, but the whole lot of them, about fifty or sixty. Does anyone have any insight? I have seen a few extend their stinger for a second or two, but not this many and not for the whole time they are fanning.
If it means anything, our days are high forties to low sixties and nights are high twenties to mid thirties.
Thanks all!
David