[ocba] Mean Bees

Jeff Bollinger jeff01 at email.unc.edu
Tue Apr 28 13:31:10 EDT 2009


My bees have a reputation for being "mean", but there are so many
factors to account for their "attitude".  Weather is probably the
biggest.  I once went out in full suit right before a big
electrical/thunderstorm and they lit me up all over my ankles!  I think
they can feel the static in the air and sense instability in the atmosphere.

I have also been out when it was really cloudy/overcast and experienced
the same thing.

Other thing is smoke - I learned (after last year's excellent field day)
that I was WAY oversmoking the bees.  Be sure you're not filling the
hive with smoke - just a little every now and then is enough to keep
them calm-ish.  Too much and they will get angry.

Its also a good thing NOT to stand in front of the hive entrance unless
there's a really good reason.  I stand to the side or behind the hives
when putting on feed or working inside the hive.

If you're just putting on a feeder like a boardman/front feeder, you can
do it quickly and not worry about getting stung unless you're making a
big racket.  For the internal style feeders, if you have to pull off the
cover and start moving things around there's definitely a higher chance
of getting stung.  This is just one of the many reasons I exclusively
use the front feeders (then again I have never had more than 3 hives at
once).

Jeff


Lewis Cauble wrote:
> Mary Lou,
> It's hard to say from here if your bees are overly aggressive.  It  
> might be helpful if you could tell us what type of feeder you are  
> using, where the bees came from, how large the hive is, and when the  
> hive was established.
> 
> It's no fun dealing with aggressive bees.  Simply re-queening with a  
> gentle queen should adjust the attitude of the hive.
> 
> Lewis
> 
> 
> On Apr 27, 2009, at 9:24 PM, Mary Lou Bethune wrote:
> 
>> I am new to owing a hive and I am wondering if it is normal to get  
>> stung
>> every( and several) time one goes to feed the bees?   WE have the  
>> hood and
>> gloves and cover up totally but still get stung( we just learned  
>> that they
>> can sting through stretch pants).
>> Thanks
>> Mary Lou Bethune
>>
>>
> ____________________________________________________________
> Take your cooking skills to the next level. Find a cooking school near you!
> http://thirdpartyoffers.netzero.net/TGL2241/fc/BLSrjpYV33i7g94U4qml81UDWKnfXdY1kieMutd1zTMhcrH7wrBjfiXNyRS/
> _______________________________________________
> ocba mailing list
> North Carolina Beekeeping
> http://www.theocba.org/



More information about the ocba mailing list