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Author Topic: Bees "sweeping up" the landing board  (Read 1587 times)

Offline opster246

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Bees "sweeping up" the landing board
« on: July 22, 2016, 09:53:14 pm »
I'm new to the world of beekeeping - so today I noticed quite a few bees hanging out on the landing board of the SBB.  The weather is quite warm (low 90's and humid).  While I understand the bees congregating outside, I noticed quite a few are fanning-but the vast majority seem to be cleaning the SBB landing area by "sweeping" with their front legs and their heads are down.  Just wondering if they are collecting dropped pollen or propolis or if they are just bored and very tidy?  This is my first post to the forum and I am looking forward to all the info to be found here!
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Offline BeeMaster2

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Re: Bees "sweeping up" the landing board
« Reply #1 on: July 22, 2016, 11:10:12 pm »
Welcome to Beemaster Opster.
What you are seeing is called washboarding. Some say they are really not doing anything but I suspect they are sanitizing the hive.
Jim
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Offline cao

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Re: Bees "sweeping up" the landing board
« Reply #2 on: July 23, 2016, 12:13:52 am »
Welcome. :happy:
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Offline herbhome

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Re: Bees "sweeping up" the landing board
« Reply #3 on: July 23, 2016, 01:01:15 am »
Welcome,

Washboarding always fascinates me. Almost like busy work for the kids!
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Neill

Offline Rurification

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Re: Bees "sweeping up" the landing board
« Reply #4 on: July 23, 2016, 04:04:53 pm »
Welcome!    I don't use landing boards anymore so my bees washboard up the front of the hive around the entrance.   It's very clean now....
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Robin Edmundson
www.rurification.com

Beekeeping since 2012

Offline Sundog

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Re: Bees "sweeping up" the landing board
« Reply #5 on: August 08, 2016, 12:49:01 am »
Quote from: Rurification on July 23, 2016, 04:04:53 pm
Welcome!    I don't use landing boards anymore so my bees washboard up the front of the hive around the entrance.   It's very clean now....

Me too!  I also build a 1-1/2 inch opening right into my SBB, biased to one side.  Landing boards just collect water and vermin.
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