As a new beekeeper, you might spend hours observing your hive, trying to learn the rhythms and routines of your bees. One day, you might notice something strange: a group of bees on the front of the hive, moving back and forth in a rhythmic, sweeping motion, as if polishing the surface. This behavior might appear puzzling or even concerning. Are they trying to get something off the hive? Are they sick? Is it a sign of trouble?
This behavior is known as “washboarding,” and it’s one of the more curious aspects of bee behavior. Though it might seem odd at first glance, it’s not typically a cause for concern. In fact, it’s a fairly common sight in strong, healthy colonies. Understanding washboarding can give you a better sense of your bees’ natural behaviors and help you differentiate between normal activity and signs of distress or disease. In this article, we’ll explore what washboarding is, why bees do it, and what—if anything—you should do about it. We’ll also look at other behaviors that may occur alongside or be confused with washboarding, so you can feel more confident and informed as you manage your hive.
What is Washboarding?
Washboarding is a rhythmic behavior observed in honey bee colonies, where worker bees line up side by side on a vertical or horizontal surface—often the front of the hive or nearby equipment—and move their bodies back and forth in unison. Typically, the bees extend their front legs, place them on the surface, and sway their heads and thoraxes up and down or back and forth in a repetitive manner. This movement resembles scrubbing or polishing, hence the term “washboarding.”
Washboarding is most commonly seen on smooth surfaces such as the front face of a hive box, the landing board, or even glass or plastic components near the hive. Bees engaged in washboarding appear highly focused, often ignoring other hive activities and nearby bees. The behavior tends to occur during daylight hours, particularly on warm, sunny days when foraging activity is high and the colony is populous and healthy.
Though washboarding may look intense or ritualistic, it is not associated with aggression, illness, or stress. The bees are not exhibiting signs of distress; instead, they appear to be performing this task with deliberate coordination and calmness. Washboarding behavior may last for several hours or come and go throughout the day.
It’s important not to confuse washboarding with other bee behaviors such as robbing, grooming, or ventilation fanning. Robbing involves erratic flying, fighting, and bees entering the hive forcefully. Grooming involves pairs of bees cleaning each other, and fanning usually includes bees standing with raised abdomens and fanning their wings rapidly to circulate air. Washboarding, by contrast, is more organized and rhythmic.
Why Do Bees Washboard?
Despite decades of observation, the exact reason why honey bees washboard remains a mystery. Unlike other well-understood behaviors such as foraging or fanning, washboarding doesn’t have a clear and universally accepted function. However, several theories have been proposed by researchers and seasoned beekeepers, and understanding these can help demystify the behavior.
1. Surface Cleaning: One of the most commonly cited theories is that washboarding is a form of surface cleaning. Bees may be attempting to remove microscopic debris, mold, or pathogens from hive surfaces, maintaining a hygienic environment. This theory aligns with bees’ known penchant for cleanliness—bees routinely remove waste and debris from the hive and engage in extensive grooming activities.
2. Territory Marking: Another idea is that bees use washboarding as a method of marking territory. Through contact with their legs and mandibles, they might be leaving behind chemical signals or pheromones that help communicate information about the hive entrance or territory boundaries. These pheromones could act as cues for orientation, defense, or social structure within the colony.
3. Age-Related Behavioral Development: Some researchers believe washboarding is part of the natural behavioral development of worker bees. Worker bees go through different roles as they age—from nursing to guarding to foraging. Washboarding could be a transitional activity that helps bees build coordination and social bonding skills before graduating to more complex tasks like foraging or guarding.
4. Social Synchronization: There is also speculation that washboarding serves a social synchronization function, helping bees align themselves in time and space with other members of the colony. Like a dance, this coordinated movement might serve as a bonding ritual that strengthens group cohesion.
5. No Known Function – A Quirk of Bee Behavior: Some entomologists propose that washboarding may simply be a behavioral byproduct of other instincts—a kind of evolutionary leftover with no current purpose, or a way to expend excess energy in a thriving colony with many workers.
It’s worth noting that washboarding tends to occur more frequently in strong, healthy colonies that have ample foragers and resources. This supports the idea that it may be a non-essential behavior that occurs when bees have extra time and energy.
What Can I Do if My Bees Are Washboarding?
What Can I Do if My Bees Are Washboarding?
The short answer is: nothing—and that’s perfectly okay.
Washboarding is not a sign of a problem that needs intervention. If your bees are engaging in washboarding behavior, it generally means your colony is healthy, populous, and functioning well. However, since washboarding can raise concerns for new beekeepers, it’s still a good idea to use the opportunity to do a brief checkup on the hive.
Here’s a checklist to guide your observations:
1. Check for Signs of Stress or Disease Ensure that the hive is not under attack from pests like small hive beetles or Varroa mites. Look for deformed wings, unusual larval appearance, or erratic behavior inside the hive. If everything else appears normal, the washboarding is likely just typical behavior.
2. Monitor for Robbing Activity Sometimes robbing can occur near or alongside washboarding, and it’s essential to know the difference. Robbing bees are often frantic, bumping into each other, wrestling, and entering the hive aggressively. Washboarding bees are calm and methodical. If you see signs of robbing (such as bees fighting at the entrance), consider installing entrance reducers or robbing screens.
3. Consider Your Hive Setup Washboarding is more likely on smooth surfaces. If you recently painted your hive or installed new equipment, this may have prompted the behavior. It’s not a cause for concern, but interesting to note as part of understanding your bees’ preferences.
4. Don’t Try to Stop It There is no need to disrupt or discourage washboarding. Attempting to interfere may only stress the colony or lead you to misinterpret a normal behavior as a problem. Let the bees do their thing—they know best.
5. Take Notes Keeping a beekeeping journal can help you track patterns in your hive. Record when you notice washboarding, what the weather was like, hive conditions, and any changes. Over time, you may begin to notice correlations, such as certain times of year or colony strength levels.
Final Thoughts
Washboarding is one of those fascinating honey bee behaviors that reminds us just how complex and mysterious these creatures are. While it might appear odd or even worrying at first, it’s actually a positive sign that your bees are engaged and active. The truth is, we don’t fully understand every behavior in a beehive—and that’s part of the wonder of beekeeping.
For new beekeepers, the key is learning to distinguish between normal behaviors and genuine signs of trouble. Washboarding might look strange, but it’s harmless and possibly beneficial. Rather than trying to stop it, consider it a testament to your colony’s strength and health. As you gain more experience, you’ll become more adept at interpreting your bees’ behaviors and responding accordingly.
So the next time you see your bees moving back and forth in that rhythmic, synchronized dance, smile and know: your bees are just being bees.