At , you wrote:
>a couple questions from a "newbee"
>
>I've noticed that many bees (1000 + or - ) are clumping on the landing
>and some on the side of the hive.  What's up with this behavior?
 
Bees hanging out!
 
Common bee behavior with as many beekeepers answers as there are
beekeepers, and all may be rite for any one area.
 
In this area, the one I am thinking of is central California coast, after
the early summer honey flows the bee hives are often still crowded with
young and old bees and the hive heats up easily and the bees hang out to
reduce congestion in the hive and cooling is the results. This problem can
many times be reduced by providing water close to the bee yard as when the
nectar flow ends the need for outside water for cooling is increased since
the moisture in the nectar is no longer available.
 
In the late summer in the hot central valley like today the temperature is
over 100, in fact it was 105. At these times in the heat of the day the
bees will stop flying for water or nectar and as the shadows increase they
will just about all come out an hang one the shady side of the box, under
it, and between them if they are close. Again if they did not the hive
would over heat and brood would be lost, and in some cases in the old days
when reinforced foundations was rare, the combs of honey themselves would
melt down and honey would run out on the ground. Many old time beekeepers
had two tops, or an extra top, usually a old one that were called "summer"
lids and they used these to add a little shade to the top of the hive. It
works, but does not look all that good.
 
All these bees hanging out can make it an all nighter when one has to move
bees. Many beekeepers carry a back pack (fire) sprayer and extra water and
will spray a yard down before they try to load them in the extreme
afternoon heat when many bees would be lost if they were left on the
outside of the boxes during movement. It is interesting that smoking the
bees in does not work as as soon as you move down the row to smoke other
hives they will hurry back out. With the water spray little or no smoke is
necessary as it seems to calm the bees. One wants to be careful under the
conditions that cause the bees to hang out as many time all the bees in the
hive will be outside.
 
In the very hot desert areas of California and Arizona bees are sometimes
moved during the day because they will quit flying when it get much over
100 and can be moved easily. In some areas the bees die as soon as they
come in and try to land as the ground becomes very hot. In these areas
beekeepers build shade for their bees made out of local materials such as
palm leaves, or branches, and even the wood from cactus.
 
ttul, the OLd Drone