I woke up to a thunderstorm this morning. We've been without rain for a very long time.
At 7 AM I went out to see the bees. Wet clumps were clinging to the hive to dry off. If you click on the second picture to enlarge it, you'll see how wet the bees are.
I thought the lower bee in the third photo was dead. I brushed her with a pine needle and she moved. She is hanging onto the hive to dry off her wings before she can move again.
A few bees took shelter in the handhold of the super!
I wonder what goes on in the hives when it rains? All of the bees have designated jobs and they keep the place spotless. When I can't garden, I can always clean out a closet. What do bees do? Some of them must feel an intense desire to fly. I see bees coming in and out of the hive even with the rain falling.
I use an old inner cover to give extra shelter for the bees against the rain. I placed them over the top cover and let it overhang the entrance. I also weigh it down with a brick. I keeps the bees and entrance dry.
ReplyDeleteWouldn't you know that me, being natually of bad luck, (no mirrors involved), aligned the entrance to my hive EXACTLY with where the water pours off the roof. Good thing I bought a plastic screened BB.
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