Which part of a row of hives causes bees to make more mistakes unless there are distinguishing colors or shapes?

Bees often rely on visual cues to navigate their environment and return to their hive after foraging. When there are multiple hives lined up in a row, the area that typically leads to more navigational errors for bees is the middle section of the row. This is due to the fact that bees may become confused with the lack of distinctive landmarks as they try to associate their hive with returning. The outer portions usually provide clearer visual markers, while the hives in the middle do not have the same orientation aids.

Having distinguishing colors or shapes on or around the hives helps the bees to more easily recognize their specific hive among the others, reducing the likelihood of mistakes. When these visual features are absent, the bees' ability to identify their home becomes compromised, particularly in the middle where distances and visual cues blend together. Thus, hives located in the middle of a row are indeed at greater risk of causing navigational errors among the bees.