So here is a befuddling situation:
I live in southcentral Alaska and have a really strong hive I am trying to overwinter. (Overwintering is always a sketchy proposition here). So far, the hive has survived, but twice now, a large group of bees has clustered outside the hive for half the day. Last time, most of them made it back inside before nightfall (besides the 100 or so unfortunate souls who decided to try to fly.) Interestingly, both times they have clustered outside the hive, the temperature had been low for a couple weeks (10 to -10F), then it's warmed up into the twenties quickly. Ideas?
I live in southcentral Alaska and have a really strong hive I am trying to overwinter. (Overwintering is always a sketchy proposition here). So far, the hive has survived, but twice now, a large group of bees has clustered outside the hive for half the day. Last time, most of them made it back inside before nightfall (besides the 100 or so unfortunate souls who decided to try to fly.) Interestingly, both times they have clustered outside the hive, the temperature had been low for a couple weeks (10 to -10F), then it's warmed up into the twenties quickly. Ideas?