Hi Jim
 
I have never tried this but some old-time beekeepers have told me
that if bees are closed up in their hives for 4 or 5 days they
have to reorient and can be moved prior to reopening the hive.
 
Frank & Phronsie Humphrey
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-----Original Message-----
From: Jim Moore <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Monday, January 05, 1998 11:34 AM
Subject: Time length of bee's memory
 
 
>        I'm curious, how long will a bee remember their hive
location? In late
>October I rearranged my hives to get more sun and less shade
during the winter
>months. The hives were moved only about 15-20 feet. Saturday it
was warm enough for
>a major cleansing flight. One hive by 10 AM was really busy. At
that time I noticed
>about 50-100 bees from this hive at the old hive location
looking for the entrnace
>that was now 15 feet to the South. Over 8 weeks and these ladies
still remembered!
>
>        How long will "confined" bees remember the previous hive
location?
>
>        Regards,
>
>                Jim Moore
>                2 years, 4 Hives
>