Skip to Content.
Sympa Menu

ocba - [ocba] Defensive hive

ocba AT lists.ibiblio.org

Subject: Orange County, NC Beekeepers

List archive

Chronological Thread  
  • From: John Cotterman <johncotterman AT yahoo.com>
  • To: "ocba AT lists.ibiblio.org" <ocba AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: [ocba] Defensive hive
  • Date: Mon, 3 Aug 2015 17:42:09 +0000 (UTC)

I was away for 5 weeks and decided to to a look-see inspection this morning. I had to abandon my inspection after only 10 minutes. I was only able to get the inner cover off and look into a few frames. This is my second year keeping a couple of hives and I have never encountered as much defensive behavior (or as many stings). They were getting me through thick jeans and leather gloves. Smoke did not disuade down the guard bees. I walked away and many followed me aggressively for 100 feet.

I started the inspection at 10am, maybe too early for the foragers to leave home, but in this heat I'm not wanting to wait until the sun is up high and the temps in the 80s. I could see into the top box and there was both honey and brood activity and no immediately visible mites as well as growing space on some of the frames so I'm confident that they are busy and healthy. I can leave them alone for a week or two and come back.

I've heard mention on this list the current dearth-caused defensive behavior. When would you estimate (or tell) when the dearth ends? 

I also wonder whether my absence for 5 weeks had anything to do with this. Do bees get used to humans who visit regularly and not get alarmed as readily? This doesn't make a lot of intuitive sense to me, just wondering.

  -- John Cotterman



Archive powered by MHonArc 2.6.24.

Top of Page