Drifting bees
Bee drifting refers to the phenomenon where bees, particularly young foragers, mistakenly enter neighboring hives instead of their own. This is more common in apiaries where hives are placed close together and look similar. Drifting can lead to several problems: it can weaken the home hive as foragers are lost, spread diseases and parasites between colonies, and cause fighting between bees of different colonies. Minimizing drifting is important for maintaining colony strength, health, and apiary harmony. Factors contributing to drifting include hive placement, orientation, and visual similarity.
- Hive entrance orientation3
Orienting hive entrances in different directions is a simple yet effective method to reduce bee drifting. When hive entrances face the same direction, especially in long rows, bees returning from foraging trips may become disoriented and enter adjacent hives. By facing entrances in varied…
📌 none4/16/2025, 9:22:02 PM
🛠️ Compass (optional)
- Hive spacing2
Increasing the spacing between hives in an apiary significantly reduces bee drift. When hives are placed too close together, bees can easily drift to adjacent colonies, especially in densely populated apiaries. Spacing hives further apart, ideally several feet or more, provides bees with more…
📌 none4/16/2025, 9:22:02 PM
🛠️ Measuring tape (optional)
- Mark hives with visual cues3
Providing visual cues on hive boxes helps bees distinguish their home colony and reduces drifting. Bees rely on visual landmarks for orientation. Painting hive boxes with different colors, patterns, or adding distinct symbols creates unique visual identifiers for each hive. This visual…
📌 diy4/16/2025, 9:22:02 PM
🛠️ Paint, brushes