Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
hives are placed in straight rows;
there is a prevailing wind; or
all the hives are identical and facing the same way.
Research has shown that hives at the end of rows are more conspicuous to bees than
those within rows, and hives in the front and back rows are more conspicuous than
middle-row hives. Bees will, therefore, more readily enter hives in the outer rows at the
ends of rows.
The effects of drifting are that some hives can be depleted of foragers, thus affecting
their honey-gathering ability, and it can also be a way of spreading disease. With only a
couple or so of hives, this is unlikely to be a problem but, as soon as you expand, drifting
will become a major consideration.
Drifting can cause large variations in hive yields in an apiary that beekeepers may then
ascribe to a failing queen, etc., and the wrong corrective action may then be taken. It
is a bigger problem than most beekeepers realize and very few beekeepers control or
prevent it, mainly because neat rows of identical hives look tidy and efficient and good
to the eye. You won't suffer from this problem, though, because you now know that it
really is a big, if hidden, problem and you will no doubt follow the advice below.
Preventing drifting
The following are some ways to prevent drifting:
Arrange your hives in an irregular manner. Hives situated among trees or shrubs
with the entrances facing indifferent directions should not suffer from drifting.
The hives are distinct to the bees, and the shrubs and trees act as landmarks for
them.
Place or grow landmarks in an apiary.
Arrange your hives in a horse-shoe pattern, or in wavy lines.
Arrange your hives in pairs with 2-3 m (6½-10 ft) between pairs.
