The hive I got March of this year has become so angry. It is two ten frame brood boxes full. The bees are yellow-orange with no black stripes to some. I don?t know what type, very little information was given when I got the hive. So in the last month or so they?ve become significantly more aggressive compared to my hive of carniolans which is just a tiny bit bigger. They have a weird habit of trying to sting my feet...don?t know why. And just generally stinging me. They react so aggressively to me when I start lifting up the frames that I have to puff smoke at them between every four frames I examine. They also appear to be raising a lot of drones. I didn?t see the queen or any eggs. Could they have lost her and now they?re just mad at me? She has flown away before during an inspection and then returned to one of the cinderblocks next to the hive. Generally, compared to my carniolans, this hive has not built up as quickly. I?m not noticing very much honey being brought in either. The two other hives are doing well, and bringing in lots of nectar and pollen.
Also, the split I made is doing so well. The queen is laying a lot, and generally the hive is calm.
So, should I requeen the grumpy hive with some carniolans? Should I just put a frame of eggs in there so they?ll make a new queen?
-Lizzie
My philosophy on aggressive hives is that whenever they reach the point when you say enough is enough, the hive get split and will continue to be split until the hive calms down again. Whether you let them requeen themselves or you purchase queens is up to you.
Quote from: LizzieBee on May 27, 2019, 07:19:36 PM
The hive I got March of this year has become so angry. It is two ten frame brood boxes full. The bees are yellow-orange with no black stripes to some. I don?t know what type, very little information was given when I got the hive. So in the last month or so they?ve become significantly more aggressive compared to my hive of carniolans which is just a tiny bit bigger. They have a weird habit of trying to sting my feet...don?t know why. And just generally stinging me. They react so aggressively to me when I start lifting up the frames that I have to puff smoke at them between every four frames I examine. They also appear to be raising a lot of drones. I didn?t see the queen or any eggs. Could they have lost her and now they?re just mad at me? She has flown away before during an inspection and then returned to one of the cinderblocks next to the hive. Generally, compared to my carniolans, this hive has not built up as quickly. I?m not noticing very much honey being brought in either. The two other hives are doing well, and bringing in lots of nectar and pollen.
Also, the split I made is doing so well. The queen is laying a lot, and generally the hive is calm.
So, should I requeen the grumpy hive with some carniolans? Should I just put a frame of eggs in there so they?ll make a new queen?
-Lizzie
Lizzie, hives can become more aggressive as a result of being queenless. If your other hive(s) are Carniolans and you give this hive a frame of eggs from one of your other hives, you will be requeening them with a Carniolan, since the eggs on that frame are Carniolans eggs, one (or more) of which the bees will turn into a Carniolan queen.
I?m going to wait until next week to check again. If they appear queenless, and then t doesn?t look like they are making a new queen, I?ll put a frame of eggs from another hive in there.
Thanks!
-Lizzie
Agree with Cao and Member.
If the honeybees sting your feet the reason is the bees realize your feet are vulnerable. Where thicker socks, boots etc.
Consider what Cao said seriously. I would rather work two defensive hives each with 10,000 bees than a single defensive hive with 20,000.
I agree, it sounds like they lost their queen. Do what Cao and Member said and make 2 hives and add Carnolian eggs and larvae and now you will have all Carnolian bees.
Jim Altmiller
It turns out my hive still has the queen. They were a lot calmer last inspection. I saw lots of young larva. I?m starting to wonder if the weather is affecting my inspections. I mean, I know sunny, warm weather is ideal. I think I?ve been inspecting on slightly overcast or slightly windy days which somehow affects that hive way more than the other two.
Lizzie