What is going on with my bees?

February 27, 2009 3:09 PM

Are my bees getting robbed?

It was warm today in Boston and my hive was very busy. As I sat near and watched it appeared that there were various struggles going on at the hive entrance. It wasn't spring cleaning of bees lost to the winter but a fight to drag out live bees who seemed to be resisting this. Could bees be out robbing on the first warm day?

posted by InkaLomax to science & nature (7 comments total)

I wouldn't think that there would be much to rob after the winter ... are you sure they weren't just cleaning house? Were there flights out and back, or just commotion at the entrance?
posted by gyusan at 3:43 PM on February 27

There were flights back and forth, I could see some bees going in with pollen. I had peeked in on this hive a few weeks back and they still had plenty of honey. I don't even know for sure that what I was seeing was aggressive behavior, it sure looked like it though.
posted by InkaLomax at 4:00 PM on February 27

Maybe drones?
posted by notned at 4:02 PM on February 27

Hard to tell. The first part of the clip looks like some bees hassling a drone, which doesn't make sense in the spring, since they're usually tossed out in the fall and don't re-emerge for a little while yet.

Had you opened the hive or spilled some sugar water or anything? If bees get a good whiff of honey or food they can go a little nuts.
posted by electroboy at 4:09 PM on February 27

I'm no expert but send me a MeMail and I'll refer you to my community garden's beekeeper, who's a fourth-generation apiarist and a really nice guy.
posted by dogrose at 4:19 PM on February 27

Electroboy: no, I have not fed the hive at all.
posted by InkaLomax at 4:22 PM on February 27

Is that an immature queen getting the boot from a hive that already has a queen?
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 8:00 PM on February 27