"...We look at nectar flows and gathering surplus.  is it possible that Foraging recruitment is as big a factor in that surplus collection?  could there be some trigger that says  increase from 20 percent working to say 40%???  we view it as nectar flows,  but is it possible its just bees on overtime???or at least that foraging activity by more than 20% occurs at certain times??..."

Charlie,

Your idea makes sense when you consider it has been shown bees will taken on other jobs as needed, even if they are not as proficient as they should be at the other job.     Even if it is 20% to 30% who do the foraging, you will need a number close to that to accept the incoming nectar and pollen from the foragers (not to mention water and plant resins for propolis)  and to keep the colony cooking and thriving, you need the newbees performing the nursery duties.

When you gently and slowly lift the inner cover, the majority of all of the bees clinging to the underside of it are bees who have not left the hive to take their marking/orientation  flight yet.  That is why you can shake the bees from the underside of an inner cover into another hive and they will stay there as they do not know where their colony is really located yet.    How long is it before these bees go to work?

Steve P
Central  Illinois

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