What I have observed is that where the bees have completed washboarding water does not stick when it rains, so it’s either a thin layer or wax or propolis they are putting on. Must be a trait to stop water damage when they used to nest in tree hollows etc
Bees Washboarding
- Thread starter Josethayil
- Start date
What I have observed is that where the bees have completed washboarding water does not stick when it rains, so it’s either a thin layer or wax or propolis they are putting on. Must be a trait to stop water damage when they used to nest in tree hollows etc
I don't know if waterproofing is the answer for this behaviour but it seems like a much more reasonable if less interesting suggestion than my one of naughty young bees being forced to do calisthenics. It's certainly an interesting behaviour, I was watching one of my hives at home doing it last week and wondering whether some young bees had broken into the fermented honey for a Christmas party.
You can mostly see the water don’t stick or get absorbed into wood where the bees have completed washboarding. Especially on unpainted hives.
Now that is a very interesting observation. Perhaps the age of the bees that undertake this activity has some bearing. They secrete tiny wax particles to build comb and rather than hanging like a curtain they release the wax there on the front of the hive be it a box or tree and still of benefit to the whole