>>We have had bees moving back and forth in that pattern and were told
>>that it is a random act called "washboarding."
 
>I've read about this in my *old* edition of ABC & XYZ and noticed my bees
>doing it the other evening. The book implied that it's just a form of
>loafing when the bees have nothing else to do. Anybody got a better
>explanation?
 
        As a programmer I always consider that it is some "logic" that is
instictively being "executed" on the bees part. I assume it is young bees
who are supposed to be cleaning cells but due to nectar in the cells or a
hot hive they move outside and execute the behavior anyway.
        I have no evidence that they are the young bees but it seems
resonable to me.