Thought it was fighting?

[rookie2531]

I noticed a few times what looked like fighting. 3 or 4 bees surrounding 1 and jerking away at it. Looked like they were tugging on legs, wings. The one getting what I thought was being attacked just stood still. After it was over the bee just walks away, no harm seemed to happen. I see this outside the hive by the entrance.

What is this behavior? Grooming?

[rwlaw]

It's called. Intruder alert! Opps, sorry sis, hope we didn't rough you up too bad. They do it all the time, especially this time of the year.

[BeeMaster2]

Rookie,
I see 1 on1 bees in front of my hives, all the time. On bee stands there and the other one grooms it checking it over. Occasionally I see 2 or 3 on 1.
Did the bee under attack land there or did it come out of the hive.
Hygienic bees will not only clean each other, they will also remove a bee that is sick. My bees use my pool as their trash dump. I have watched them carry bees off the front of the hive and dump them in the pool. The bees they dump had DWV.
Jim

[jayj200]

I have watched what looks to me like one dressing down one. face to face then all around a couple a times then it is over. one usually walks away the other sometimes flies off

[Candiebears]

I did also read bees 'dance' to tell others where to fly. (I'm new) Don't know if that's it.. but just figured I'd throw it out there.

[Vance G]

The dancing happens internally on the frames to draw a crowd and give directions.  You will see it Candie.  As far as robbing, a week ago there was a huge gaggle of bees in front of one of my too late splits and I rushed over fearing the worst.  What it was, was a huge orientation flight taking place.  A mass of bees out for their first flight and I just caught it.  Now if I can get them fed up enough to support all those mouths! 

Grooming bees are a really good thing.  My queen supplier breeds from hives where 80% of the vorroa on the stickie boards are missing legs or have chunks gone out of their carapace. 

[biggraham610]

The dancing happens internally on the frames to draw a crowd and give directions.  You will see it Candie.  As far as robbing, a week ago there was a huge gaggle of bees in front of one of my too late splits and I rushed over fearing the worst.  What it was, was a huge orientation flight taking place.  A mass of bees out for their first flight and I just caught it.  Now if I can get them fed up enough to support all those mouths! 

Grooming bees are a really good thing.  My queen supplier breeds from hives where 80% of the vorroa on the stickie boards are missing legs or have chunks gone out of their carapace. 

Who is your breeder if you dont mind me asking Vance? G :chop:

[Vance G]

Bill Carpenter in Freezeproof Florida.  If you need more to find him, I will dig out a phone number. 

The dancing happens internally on the frames to draw a crowd and give directions.  You will see it Candie.  As far as robbing, a week ago there was a huge gaggle of bees in front of one of my too late splits and I rushed over fearing the worst.  What it was, was a huge orientation flight taking place.  A mass of bees out for their first flight and I just caught it.  Now if I can get them fed up enough to support all those mouths! 

Grooming bees are a really good thing.  My queen supplier breeds from hives where 80% of the vorroa on the stickie boards are missing legs or have chunks gone out of their carapace. 

Who is your breeder if you dont mind me asking Vance? G :chop: