Fanning on the landing board

General Bee Chat
1

Hi Folks, I have a lot of bees on the landing board that are fanning. I also have a bunch wedged into the entrance reducer. Are they all trying to reduce the moisture out of the honey or cool the hive, even the ones out on the landing board?

2

I’m guessing it is late in your afternoon? Sounds like fairly normal behaviour. I’ve got an extended “board” under the front of the hive (below the landing board but projecting out over a water filled ant trap to reduce bee collateral damage) and every day during the warmer weather I would have multiple lines of bees, often 10+ bees long, fanning in unison.

3

Hi Chris, your bees are doing both. Cooling the hive to maintain a constant temperature in the brood area as well as dewatering the honey.

4

Thanks jeff and snowflake.