At the Hive Entrance.pdf - BioBees

B. The day of the Cleansing Flight.
As soon as the cleansing flight has begun, all waste-matter must be removed from the
bottom-board. Observations made at this time will supply much information that will
complete information gained at the hive entrance. See page 60.
Observation
Explanation
The colony has been restless
throughout the winter. However,
it has not been disturbed, it
does not have poor food nor is
it ill.
This observation is essentially
similar to that of a sick, disturbed
or queenless colony. However
the reasons are very different.
To begin with, the first paragraph of the observations
for November should be read.
On the day of the cleansing flight, study of the accumulated
waste matter found on the bottom board of
the hives, occupied by partially or non-selected populations,
immediately reveals obvious differences.
Some colonies are found where the faecal matter is
covered by a thick layer of dead bees. Thick streaks of
faeces between which there are dead bees and halfdeveloped
pupae lead to the conclusion that there has
been an abnormally high consumption of winter provisions.
Even before the day of the cleansing flight, the back
window protected by a quilt is warm. Why? Because
colonies which still nurse small areas of brood until
December, often resume breeding in January. I have
already found as early as the 15 th January, brood on
three frames from a hive with a strong predominance
of Italian bees, which had been devastated and whose
frames were scattered on the snow. As wide a surface
as a hand had already been sealed. On asking the
owner the value of the colony, he replied that it had
never brought him any profit.
Very few beekeepers are aware of this early breeding
since a hive is never opened during November,
December, or January. Realization of this early
laying is only possible the actual day of the cleansing
flight and one is not able to explain it. Many such
colonies exist, at all the various stages of development,
that one can think of. All crosses with Italian
bees belong to this category.
In the spring, these colonies lose a large number of
bees which die during flight, and due to this get reinforced
much later. They have a good brood in Summer,
fly a great deal without ever filling up their
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