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Fanning at the entrance - in the morning
Posted: Mon May 27, 2019 9:09 am
by reedyfork
This morning I noticed one of my hives (new package from March 30) has about 3-5 bees on the porch fanning outward. I have the entrance reducer on the middle-sized opening, screened bottom board, spacer up top to create an "attic", and the inner cover below it to allow air flow out of the opening. Are they doing this still to try and cool the interior, or some other reason? First time I've seen this behavior...
Re: Fanning at the entrance - in the morning
Posted: Mon May 27, 2019 10:12 am
by Jacobs
They are probably fanning for temperature control. Sometimes you will see a line on 1 side of the bottom board facing in and fanning, while seeing another line of bees on the other side facing out and fanning. They are increasing air flow in the hive. Bees will also fan to evaporate water from nectar so that they can cap honey.
Re: Fanning at the entrance - in the morning
Posted: Mon May 27, 2019 8:40 pm
by Wally
They are likely fanning to dry the nectar into honey that they are curing in the wild comb in the spacer. You should take some pics when that spacer is packed with wild comb honey.