couple of questions

[tedh]

Hi Everyone,

#1: Over the summer I've enjoyed sitting in a spot about 4 or 5 feet away from the hive.  It's off to the side but I could see the entrance and front porch.  I like to hang out there, watch the girls coming and going, listen to the pleasant buzz, maybe have a smoke.  Over the last 4 weeks the bees have become, if not aggressive, at least more curious than before.  Recently I've taken a couple two or three stings just sitting there, while previously they didn't seem to notice or care that I was there.  Today, with my veil on, I sat there and it wasn't 30 seconds before one of the girls came over and "bumped" me a few times.  I left before she got too angry.  Why this sudden change?  My thoughts are, that because the seasons coming to a change, they're busy putting away provisions for the winter and are VERY protective of those provisions.  I did an inspection last week fearing they were queenless, however, while not SEEING the queen, I did see signs of her.  Eggs, larva, and capped brood.  Any thoughts on this?

#2:  I added a third deep 4 weeks ago thinking that anything they drew out would put me ahead for next year and would help with splits I hope to make.  They haven't touched it.  Should I give them a little more time?  Should I remove it as it seems like it's nothing more than an impediment for them trying to reach the syrup they're being fed?

Thanks, Ted

[efmesch]

Ted, your thoughts are pretty much on line----as the seasons change, the honey flow in most areas comes to an end. This leaves a large population of bees with nothing "productive" to do.  So they go about doing just what you experienced.

The answer to question #2 is directly related to question #1---without a real honey flow going on there will be no building.  At best, the wax foundation will just sit there.  At worst, the bees can nibble it away and destroy it.  If you want them to build, you can feed them and that would imitate the effects of a honey flow----but remember, then you are mixing sugar syrup together with authentic honey.  The bees can make use of it for overwintering, but you can't extract it for use or sale as real honey.

[pistolpete]

Bees can be a little more cranky in dearths, but there are other possible causes.   The most common thing to get bees riled up are night time visits from skunks.  They scratch at the entrance and eat the bees as they come out.  Check for scratch marks on your landing boards.  A possible remedy is a spike board in front of the hives or an electric fence low enough to zap them.

[Perry]

It's a seasonal thing, #1
If it's skunks like Pete mentions, you can also just raise them up off the ground about 18", forcing the skunks to stand on thier hind legs to feed thereby exposing thier underbellys.

[Jen]

That's what I've heard too Perry, that the bees will sting the underbelly's 

[LazyBkpr]

Did you not get the rain we just had down here Ted?  If you did, your flow should be ON in a big way..
   Two weeks ago I mowed past the hives, and got a few bumps, but no stings as the bees chased me about..  Last week I didnt even get one bump..  The flow has returned, Pollen is coming in like crazy and frames are filling..   I am going to give the girls one more week..  On the 17th I will be pulling any extra supers off.. If they have drawn some comb in them.. like you said, I am a step ahead.. If not, I feel nothing was lost.
  My bees, as much as I like to think I can manage them without gear, DO get more testy in the fall, even if theres a flow, but they get very defensive when there is no flow.
 
 

[tedh]

We have gotten some good rains over the last couple of weeks.  The golden rod is in bloom, though I still haven't seen any bees on it.  I've seen LOT'S of pollen coming in over the last few weeks (mainly in the morning).  I can't remember if it was over the last hot , dry period we had when the aggressive behavior started, but, I can say for sure that it is continuing.  I'm hoping this is just a seasonal thing, because if it's not?  The queens a goner next spring!  I'll shoot for the 17th for removing that third deep.  Ted