ocba AT lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: Orange County, NC Beekeepers
List archive
- From: Jeff Bollinger <jeff01 AT email.unc.edu>
- To: Lewis Cauble <Lewis AT hivebody.com>
- Cc: NC Beekeepers Orange County <ocba AT lists.ibiblio.org>
- Subject: Re: [ocba] Mean Bees
- Date: Tue, 28 Apr 2009 13:31:10 -0400
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
>>
>>
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-
[ocba] swarm alert,
Lewis Cauble, 04/19/2009
- Re: [ocba] swarm alert, Lewis Cauble, 04/19/2009
- <Possible follow-up(s)>
-
[ocba] swarm alert,
Lewis Cauble, 04/25/2009
- Re: [ocba] swarm alert, Tim Huntley, 04/26/2009
-
Message not available
-
[ocba] Mean Bees,
Lewis Cauble, 04/28/2009
-
Re: [ocba] Mean Bees,
Jeff Bollinger, 04/28/2009
-
Re: [ocba] Mean Bees,
Randall Austin, 04/28/2009
- Re: [ocba] Mean Bees, Elisabeth Curtis, 04/29/2009
- Re: [ocba] Mean Bees, Tom Wright, 04/29/2009
- Re: [ocba] Mean Bees, Lewis Cauble, 04/29/2009
-
Re: [ocba] Mean Bees,
Randall Austin, 04/28/2009
-
Re: [ocba] Mean Bees,
Jeff Bollinger, 04/28/2009
-
[ocba] Mean Bees,
Lewis Cauble, 04/28/2009
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