Author Topic: Serious Question (Read 13969 times)

skeeterhawk1960 · « **on:** March 26, 2014, 04:39:51 pm »

I just did my first inspection on the cutout I installed on the 13th of March. There is a bunch of black-butted bees, I mean solid black butts. All the drones are black, not that any of that matters. I posted the inspection in the TBH ect. section.
My serious question is: I did the inspection about 45 min ago. I just walked down there to check on them and a bunch of bees are flying all over the place. I sat down on my crate, where I sit alot. It is about 6 feet in front of the hives. A bee buzzed me a couple of times and then stung me. I got up and walked over to my truck which is about 30 feet away and was standing there and another stung me. I am worried about these bees. I really don`t think this is normal and I`m not going to put up with this kind of aggression. Some one please give me some advice. What do I need to do? Re-Queen? Do away with the whole hive? Get them checked for AHB? I`m new. Please help. Harper

I forgot to mention, they even stung my dog a time or two. What did I do?

?

iddee · « **Reply #1 on:** March 26, 2014, 04:57:33 pm »

Leave alone for 24 hours after inspecting. AHB do not send out one lone soldier.

skeeterhawk1960 · « **Reply #2 on:** March 26, 2014, 05:11:39 pm »

I appreciate it Iddee. I am very new to all this and was just wondering. Kinda had me worried.

Perry · « **Reply #3 on:** March 26, 2014, 05:12:40 pm »

When you go through a hive there will always be a bunch of disturbed bees.
6 feet in front of a hive is directly in their flight path, so that might explain that part.
Once you have been stung, there is an alarm pheromone released that is an indicator for other bees to find and "join the fun".
I think if you do as Iddee suggests you'll be fine Skeeter. You haven't done anything that most of us hasn't a time or two.

skeeterhawk1960 · « **Reply #4 on:** March 26, 2014, 05:45:39 pm »

Thanks Perry. I appreciate it.

apisbees · « **Reply #5 on:** March 26, 2014, 07:24:02 pm »

All black drones would indicate the queen is carnolian or a Russian. The Russian bees are known to be a little more aggressive than some of the other breeds. I wont put up with bees that are overly aggressive and will requeen them. I do have some that are more aggressive than others but all are easily workable with out a bee suit.

iddee · « **Reply #6 on:** March 26, 2014, 07:56:16 pm »

Another serious question....
Did you get drones with the cutout or save drone cells? The drones in that hive were not from eggs laid after the removal.
Remember, drones are nomads. They go from hive to hive. The drones you have could be from anywhere.

skeeterhawk1960 · « **Reply #7 on:** March 26, 2014, 07:57:39 pm »

Thanks Apisbees.
Iddee, the drones came with the cutout.
They are coming along nicely though:

tecumseh · « **Reply #8 on:** March 26, 2014, 08:07:03 pm »

SkeeterHawk... I find in almost anytime of the year, but most especially in the spring time, that bees who food resources get's thin also become highly defensive. Prowling skunks can also produce the same net effect.

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #9 on:** March 27, 2014, 12:23:26 am »

Good answers.
I have run across bees that were black.. black.. completely black, and they were the meanest things I have ever had to deal with... Yours don't sound anywhere near as bad..
The ones I dealt with were stinging people three blocks away.. town blocks, not city blocks.. The first hive I tried to fuss with, and paid the price dearly. the second call I got was not long after, and I didn't even try to save them. I got stung getting out of my truck.. OOP! Back in the truck, put coat and veil on, THEN get out of the truck.. They had a layer of bees on the veil before I got to the hive.. I KNOW we don't have AHB up here, but can only imagine this is what they would act like.
Yours just sound like they were riled up a bit. Weather? As already mentioned, something disturbing them? Skunks or coon? Neighbors kids? A branch rubbing the hive? Could be a lot of things.
It's early yet, so you have time. If they continue to be more aggressive than you like as spring progresses, then definitely re queen them. They should make a great start for a new queen, and in a few weeks will be converted to the genetics of the new queen.

skeeterhawk1960 · « **Reply #10 on:** March 27, 2014, 09:12:21 am »

Thanks Lazy and thanks for all the replies ya`ll.

Jen · « **Reply #11 on:** March 27, 2014, 10:47:48 am »

Skeeter- ""I sat down on my crate, where I sit alot. It is about 6 feet in front of the hives.""

Hey Skeeter- I like to sit to the side of the hive, I can even sit right next to the hive shoulder resting on the hive, and peer my head around the hive to watch. Rarely do I get bothered while sitting there. But if I'm in front of the hive to any degree I get bonked in the head, or the bees will hover near my face. I just stay calm and move way back. Like the others said, the trick is staying out of their flight path. And in addition, I've noticed too that when I'm in the hive, they don't want me there for too long. If I get into the hive the second day again, they're pissy. During the summer when the weather is very warm or hot, they are more content. They have more dependable food and are preoccupied by busyness.

skeeterhawk1960 · « **Reply #12 on:** March 27, 2014, 11:12:06 am »

Thanks to all of you for your replies. I panicked a little since it was my first inspection EVER.

This morning, everything is back to normal, as several said it would be. They are carrying pollen, and coming & going, just like normal.
I really appreciate you all and this website. There is a wealth of information here and since I am brand new to all of this, I would be lost without this site and all you to turn to.
Thanks so much for allowing me to be part of this and for all your help. Gary Harper

barry42001 · « **Reply #13 on:** March 27, 2014, 02:23:08 pm »

its bad practice the stand directly in front of the hive, that guarantees attention. set your chair just off to the side of the entrance, sit still and you'll be fine. remember when they took their orientation flight there was no 6 foot obstruction in font of them, so there shouldn't be now lol

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk

minz · « **Reply #14 on:** March 27, 2014, 03:45:07 pm »

I had a swarm in the trees last year. I was going through the yard looking to see which one was short on bees when I got attacked bad. I could not even get it back togather with all the stings I was taking through the pants. A couple of days later they had a QC capped and were nice again. Not saying you injured the queen but…

riverbee · « **Reply #15 on:** March 27, 2014, 06:23:30 pm »

"Thanks so much for allowing me to be part of this and for all your help. Gary Harper"

gary, i am thoroughly enjoying reading your posts and your pictures and seeing a new beek find their way. thanks for being here!
keep the posts, questions and pictures coming! we all enjoy it, and we all enjoy helping out!......
btw....your posts help others learn as well.....

iddee · « **Reply #16 on:** March 27, 2014, 06:49:55 pm »

Without questions, there would be no answers.
Without answers, no forum.
Therefore, questions are the root of the forum and it could not exist without them.
Keep them coming.

Perry · « **Reply #17 on:** March 27, 2014, 07:13:11 pm »

It's our reason for being here.

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #18 on:** March 27, 2014, 08:31:21 pm »

well, its already said, but I'll say it again;

Thanks so much for allowing me to be part of this and for all your help. Gary Harper

I think thats the point of being here. Helping if we can.. of course.. there is always picking on Perry if no one has questions.

skeeterhawk1960 · « **Reply #19 on:** March 28, 2014, 07:46:39 am »