Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: Scott Derrick on March 29, 2009, 11:08:24 am

Title: Video of bees bring in pollen and nectar
Post by: Scott Derrick on March 29, 2009, 11:08:24 am
Hi folks,

I took this video a few days ago when I noticed my bees busy of a few of my hives. I thought it worth posting. I had to load it to youtube but I'm considering another avenue.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MKbfSKW9sw

Enjoy!
Title: Re: Video of bees bring in pollen and nectar
Post by: Brian D. Bray on March 29, 2009, 12:46:50 pm
Nice video, did you notice the robber bees.

They were the ones landing on the edges of the landing board, wondering around, then suddenly making a mad dash for the hive entrance.  In just the 1st couple of minutes I saw 3 robber bees get into the hive and 1 intercepted with a little skurmish an inch or so in front of the entrance.  That is a very good video on studing how robber bees work.  They are landing on the sides of the bottom board or even the outside edge of it then zigzagging across the front before making their mad dash.  The speed of the robber bees in relation to the hives worker bees are at about a ratio of 3:1.

I would either reduce the entrance by half or put on a robber screen.  If that was a warm day the hive is too weak to police the entire entrance.

Also notice how the departing worker bees are climbing up the front of the hive before taking flight while the returning bees are making controlled crash (Aircraft Carrier style) landings, plopping down as best they can.  That is a typical coordination of work for greater efficiency.
Title: Re: Video of bees bring in pollen and nectar
Post by: Scott Derrick on March 29, 2009, 04:19:00 pm
Brian,

I did notice the fight between the three bees. Didn't notice the robber bees. I'll have to look for them. I haven't trained myself for that. It was a warm day but was overcast. The hive is very strong so I'm perplexed as to why robbers might have been able to get by the entrance. I'll keep an eye on it. Thanks so much for the tip.
Title: Re: Video of bees bring in pollen and nectar
Post by: Brian D. Bray on March 29, 2009, 11:30:16 pm
The speed of the robber bees made it obvious they weren't loaded down with anything but coming in empty.  Once you rewatch the video you should see the robber bees how they scurry about and then zip into the hive.  I think you'll be opting for half entrances until later in the spring from now on.