Bee behavior on outside of hive

Beekeeping - Basics
1

I am wondering what the bees are doing on the outside of the hive? It’s about 6:00pm in South Florida…87 degF

Is this normal behavior? Is this productive for the hive?

image.jpeg2448×3264 1.96 MB

2

Are they rocking back and forth? I’ve learned on this forum that this is called washboarding, a behaviour performed by adolescent bees and not yet fully understood.

3

Thank you!

I think you are right…It did seem as though they are cleaning the wood surface…I will have to watch more closely tomorrow…

Thanks again!
Michael