Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => TOP BAR HIVES - WARRE HIVES - LONG HIVES => Topic started by: carlosdacosta on May 26, 2013, 01:33:34 pm

Title: Ball of bees
Post by: carlosdacosta on May 26, 2013, 01:33:34 pm

Yesterday morning I saw a ball of bees tightly clustered outside the hive. Temp is about 17 deg (Celcius) only. I’ve seen them beard outside on our rare hot sunny days when temp was more than 20, but it’s not that hot today and rainy. And this cluster is really tight.

I was out for the afternnoon, and when I came back at 5:30 the ball was gone and the hive activity looked normal (pollen coming in, bees flying in and out).

This morning the ball is back.

Is this pre-swarm activity? Anything I can/should do? Any thots on this appreciated.

(http://s20.postimg.org/4td8gr6d5/beeball.jpg) (http://postimg.org/image/4td8gr6d5/)


Carlos

Title: Re: Ball of bees
Post by: Joe D on May 31, 2013, 08:56:56 pm

I have noticed mine sometimes gather up before they get started in the morning.  In the afternoon it is a good bit hotter, and they may be several out in front, not bearding yet though. 




Joe

Title: Re: Ball of bees
Post by: Michael Bush on June 04, 2013, 11:00:32 am

It's just bearding.

http://bushfarms.com/beesfaqs.htm#bearding (http://bushfarms.com/beesfaqs.htm#bearding)

Title: Re: Ball of bees
Post by: carlosdacosta on June 05, 2013, 01:09:02 pm

Thanks. I thought that bearding was only for heat reasons. I now see that there are other causes.

Title: Re: Ball of bees
Post by: Michael Bush on June 05, 2013, 01:44:52 pm

Here are a couple of booming hives in the summer, in Michael Palmer's apiary in Vermont:
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff61/frenchhill/VBAPDF2.jpg (http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff61/frenchhill/VBAPDF2.jpg)

Title: Re: Ball of bees
Post by: Michael Bush on June 05, 2013, 01:48:24 pm

Here's another:
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff61/frenchhill/strongnortherncolonies.jpg (http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff61/frenchhill/strongnortherncolonies.jpg)

Title: Re: Ball of bees
Post by: duryeafarms on June 05, 2013, 05:15:29 pm

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff61/frenchhill/strongnortherncolonies.jpg (http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff61/frenchhill/strongnortherncolonies.jpg)

If that's bearding, the one on the far right is Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top).