Hi all,
 
Whilst watching bees in an observation hive, I've seen various
aspects of their behaviour which are new to me, or which I now
understand better, however there are a couple of thing that still
puzzle me. Maybe someone else has some thoughts.
 
        When building comb, the bees hang in 'chains' from the
        thin strip of foundation I gave them. Clearly this helps
        them get their comb vertical and therefore stable.
        However, from time to time, bees drop from this chain to
        the floor where they gradually pile up in a heap of
        apparent 'corpses'. They're not dead, but if it's
        exhaustion, it's pretty profound -- they lay there
        motionless and looking physically flat. They manage to
        hang together ok when they for a swarm -- what's
        different here? (it could be hotter!).
 
        I see a number of apparent squables between two or three
        bees, where one seems to be the subject of abuse, the
        others climbing all over it, apparently pulling it about,
        biting it and attempting to sting it. Close (eyeball)
        inspection shows that whilst the bees are curled up as
        though trying to sting, the sting is not exposed or used
        and the pulling and biting, whilst appearing to be
        disturbing to the 'victim' doesn't appear to result in
        any damage or serious retribution. Is this some kind of
        cleaning behaviour perhaps?
 
Best regards,
--
Gordon Scott   [log in to unmask]   CompuServe 100332,3310
               [log in to unmask]    CompuServe 100070,413
               Beekeeper; Kendo 3rd Dan; Sometime sailor.
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