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Author Topic: Bees on the porch photo.  (Read 3427 times)

Offline Scott Derrick

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Bees on the porch photo.
« on: May 23, 2006, 06:29:29 pm »
Hi everyone,

Can you folks take a look at this and tell me if you think this is normal. I started these bees this year from a 3 pound pack. This hive is doing very well and I just added a super to it on Sunday. I haven't seen them gather as much as they have today. The temp was about 85 when I took this although they are in a shaded area.

http://www.midstatebeekeepers.com/hive_photos/bees_on_porch.JPG

TIA,

Scott
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Offline Apis629

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Bees on the porch photo.
« Reply #1 on: May 23, 2006, 09:41:59 pm »
Everything looks fine to me.  How long ago did you install the package?  My bees usually have a beard hanging off the landing board every night.  Some nights it gets close to 6 inches long!  These bees look evenly spaced.  Are they moving back and forth in large waves?  They may be washboarding.  Then again, they may just be "hanging out".

Offline tillie

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Bees on the porch photo.
« Reply #2 on: May 23, 2006, 09:45:53 pm »
Mine do the same thing - hives installed on April 16.  I couldn't find washboarding in any of my bee books and then found it on the Internet - here's a picture of my bees "washboarding" and a quote from the article I found:

http://beekeeperlinda.blogspot.com/2006/05/washboard-dance-on-monday-night.html

Hope that helps explain the dance.

Linda T in Atlanta :)

Offline Doorman

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Bees on the porch photo.
« Reply #3 on: May 23, 2006, 10:00:01 pm »
Looks OK to me. Mine cluster alot more on the outside.
Some call me a bee farmer, I prefer rancher. What
with millions of tiny livestock foraging the open range, spring and fall round ups. Boy howdy branding their little butts sure is tedious.

Offline FordGuy

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Re: Bees on the porch photo.
« Reply #4 on: May 23, 2006, 11:08:19 pm »
Quote from: rsderrick
Hi everyone,

Can you folks take a look at this and tell me if you think this is normal. I started these bees this year from a 3 pound pack. This hive is doing very well and I just added a super to it on Sunday. I haven't seen them gather as much as they have today. The temp was about 85 when I took this although they are in a shaded area.

http://www.midstatebeekeepers.com/hive_photos/bees_on_porch.JPG

TIA,

Scott

 Hi, i'm in saluda county.  could it be that brown color is making your hive too hot?  I know their in shade, but that will cause it's own problem (small hive beetle will take you over soon)  white hive, in full sun.

Offline Apis629

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Bees on the porch photo.
« Reply #5 on: May 24, 2006, 12:43:38 am »
My hives are white and two are in the shade.  I've only once found a larva (just last week, and only 1; no slimed comb) and while the levels of adult SHB are higher, I've found that my bees can deal with them without a problem.  Besides, with plastic foundation it really isn't a big issue. If a comb is infested, just remove it, boil them off and place it back in.

Offline Hi-Tech

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Bees on the porch photo.
« Reply #6 on: May 24, 2006, 12:56:28 am »
I just helped to move many, many hives from shade to sun today. Almost every hive in the shade was eat up with hive beetles. I am too tired to post pics tonight but will have some up tomorrow.

WHITE HIVES + FULL SUN = Less SHB

I am 100% convinced now!
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Offline Brian D. Bray

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Bees on the porch photo.
« Reply #7 on: May 24, 2006, 01:19:05 am »
Up in the Pacific Northwest we don't have the SHB that I'm aware of, I've never had a case of it.  But as to color the lighter or whiter the better is the rule I was taught so many years ago.  A lot of commercial beeks in are area use alumium because it's cheap and a little goes a long way.  
I have taken to painting my yellow with green tops, bottoms, racks, and shims.  I call them my honey tractors because they look like John Deeres.  
Honey tractor near the garden and a Chicken tractor in the back yard.  
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Offline Finsky

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Bees on the porch photo.
« Reply #8 on: May 24, 2006, 03:02:33 am »
I looked your hive color. When sun is shining in summer you hive surface is really hot and it makes hive difficult to keep their 32C temperature.

Much of work will be consumed to carry cooling water to hive.
.

Offline Finsky

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Re: Bees on the porch photo.
« Reply #9 on: May 24, 2006, 03:06:37 am »
Quote from: rsderrick
. I haven't seen them gather as much as they have today.


I may see bees on wall in position where they ventilate water from nectar.
They burst nectar between jaws and let water evaporate.  When nectar day is good, some bees come out to do that.

Offline Scott Derrick

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Bees on the porch photo.
« Reply #10 on: May 24, 2006, 10:46:53 am »
The reason I painted the hives brown is because I wanted to camouflauge them. I have kids in my neighborhood that don't want messing with them. They are aware of them but I didn't want any targets. I have a canopy of poplar and oak that is about 70 feet high. They all sit on hard red clay and quartz rock. I haven't had any problems with SHB with the acception of the two hives I bought from a polinator.

I appreciate the thought on the color of the hives. If I see that I start having problems with temp then I will change that. I guess I could put a thermometer in the hive to check it.

Scott
My Bee Removal Photos: https://picasaweb.google.com/109455718186385256142
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Offline Hi-Tech

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Bees on the porch photo.
« Reply #11 on: May 26, 2006, 01:05:47 am »
Pics on hive beetle dammage
http://hh-farms.com/photos/bees/052306/
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