Warm days here in Sinta (34 degrees C) which is why there isn’t much clustering and a lot of boarding. I did, however, notice one bees with all 4 wings splayed out like the classic butterfly cartoon. That bee was running all over the face of the hive, and even going backwards and forwards. I know it is part of the communication - does anyone know what it means?
Yes, that’s it. Is it related to the heat?
John Lawson
Thanks Chau. Yes, I guess it was k wing but the wings were actually further forward. And after walking around for a minute or so the bee did fly away!
John Lawson
Maybe I’m wrong but I don’t think bees can fly with true k wings. Maybe it was grooming or asking for grooming, got everything tidied up and flew off…
That’s why I mentioned the flying. In fact, the upper wings were fully forward and the smaller ones were further back like a butterfly, and it did fly. That’s why I thought it may have just been some kind of signal to the others, or it was somehow cooling itself more
John Lawson
Well, that’s something new that I’ve learned today.
What part was new? The k wings?
Hi Alok, the k wings, plus this is the first time I’ve seen a photo of a bee displaying the 4 wings. I’ll look closer now to see if I spot it with my own bees.
cheers
I was at the hive again today - 34 degrees C and there was a bit of robbing going on, but the bees were dealing with it nicely. They even saw off a yellowjacket. The 4 wing behaviour occurred a few times but not for long. It was always a guard bee that unfurled her wings and then marched quickly across the front of the entrance until she met another bee - then the wings went back in. Yesterday there was one bee that spent at least a minute displaying her wings like that. I think its just a bit of ‘stretching’ going on!
Fred Dunn talks a little bit about this in his q&a YouTube episode #163.
Don’t forget that K-wings can be a symptom of several bee diseases, especially viral. The occasional bee doesn’t matter but if you see it more often in a hive you may have a problem.
Thanks Jim. But unread that they cannot fly and it is a ‘permanent’ condition. These bees brought them back in and behaved perfectly ‘normally’, including flying
John Lawson