I have also heard third hand from Dr. Kieth Deleplane Uof GA.that the
abundance of bees on the outside can also bee a sign for mites.  since I
wasn't in the conversation I don't know if he was refering to Varroa or
Tracheal.  I would think that a ether roll won't hurt.  The test for
tracheal mites requires an autopsy to examine the trachea under a
microscope looking for the damage.  A good high school biology teacher
might be able to help or a local Univercity with an Ento. Dept.
 
Al Welk, Atlanta, GA 2 hives but work 200
 
Frank & Phronsie Humphrey wrote:
>
> ----------
> > From: Les H Vaughn <[log in to unmask]>
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> > Subject: here we go gang!
> > Date: Monday, September 01, 1997 10:23 PM
> >
> > Ok ladies and gentlemen, here is your chance to help out a
> > beginner with some really good advice gleaned form all your
> > years of experience.  (buttered up yet?)
> > Here goes.
> > I started 5 hives this year, 3 from package bees and 2 from
> > swarms I caught.  The packages came around the 1st of May,
> > and caught the swarms around the same time.  One of the
> > colonies with bought bees seemed to outgrow the single hive
> > body rather quickly, started hanging out on the outside of
> > the hive most of the time.  Once I saw that this was not an
> > isolated occurrence, I quickly added another hive body.
> > I checked the frames in the original body, and all but the
> > outside ones were drawn out with plenty of activity.  After
> > the addition of the 2nd body, the number of bees on the
> > outside diminished somewhat, but there have always been
> > several on the outside, day and night.  Now it is getting to
> > the point that the entire front and sides of the 2 bodies are
> > covered with bees at night, several inches thick in places.  I did not
> > put on any supers this year, intending for the bees to keep
> > plenty of stores for winter.
>
> snip
> >
> > Les Vaughn
> > [log in to unmask]
>
> This is a common occurrence this time of year.  The hive is full of brood
> or stores and becomes very warm. Many of the bees move outside during the
> night where it is cooler.  If you have that many bees,  add a queen
> excluder on top and super.  You might get some honey for your self or your
> other bees.  In any case it will give them space and something to do.  You
> might also consider restricting the queen to the lower chamber.  This will
> reduce the size of the colony somewhat but they would have the entire upper
> chamber to store honey for the winter instead of using up valuable stores
> to raise more brood than they need at this time of year.  Just remember to
> remove the excluder before winter sets in for good.  otherwise the queen
> can't move up with the cluster.
>
> Frank & Phronsie Humphrey
> [log in to unmask]