Leg-biting guard bee

[FreeFall]

Can anyone tell me what's going on here? Is it just an over-zealous guard bee or some other behaviour that I've not witnessed before? It happens right at the start of the video and then again around 1:20. Not seen it happen since.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnZtId_12IQ[/ame]

 

[parkranger]

looks like a bee with a leg fetish to me!

 

[DarynWebb]

look at the bee's that are entering the hives body language it's submissive.

I read about this the other day cannot remember where, it's the the bee being bitten is entering the wrong hive and the guard bee is challenging, but the lost bee/s don't put up a fight and is aloud to enter the hive.

that's my theory anyway I'm sure someone else will offer a better one.

 

[FreeFall]

it's the the bee being bitten is entering the wrong hive and the guard bee is challenging,

Good thought but I only have the one colony at present and don't know of any (currently occupied) hives nearby either. So if they are lost - they are well lost

 

[DarynWebb]

Maybe they are your bee's and they know it's their hive but have been some where and smell wrong?

 

[FreeFall]

Ahh - hadn't thought of that. Thanks Daryn!

 

[victor meldrew]

Guard bee maybe a 'jobs worthy' type
VM