Bad timing, that's all. I hope.

[Nyleve]

It's like they're not even the same bees. Just came back from the hive - the same hive that hated me yesterday - and today they're just a big bunch of puppy dogs. Busy at work, they couldn't have cared less that I was poking around in their stuff. Of course today I used smoke and came fully kitted out in everything bee-proof that I own. Ok, phobia averted. I like the girls again.

On the other hand, they haven't put a single teaspoonful of honey into their honey super. Oh well it's only been a couple of weeks. I'll give them a few more weeks.

[Michael Bush]

>I love it when people finally learn that the smoker is not just a marketing tool

:)  I wonder how many stings have resulted because of the "Bee Movie"...

[BeeMaster2]

Yeah it was too early - I know that now. It was hazy and they hadn't gone out foraging yet. So my fault, for sure. I guess I felt like it was later than it was because I'd already walked the dog and done ten other things. Still cloudy/hazy here. I'm not going out there until its bright and sunny! And I will wear a full suit, plus my jacket, gloves, rubber boots and take the smoker with me. The two stings I got yesterday are swelled up and insanely itchy! I don't need any more of this.

If there is any way you can work with out the gloves, you will bee better off. The leather gloves are bulky and you cannot feel the bees that get crushed under them. When you do crush them, they will sting the glove and cover it with alarm pheromone. Everywhere you place that glove the bees are being agitated to sting the glove again and again. You will think you have mean bees but they just are trying to defend their hive from an attack. If you have to wear gloves, get the blue vinyl ones. You will have a better feel for what is under your fingers.  If you or your suite do get stung, use your smoker to saturate the area with smoke to cover up the pheromones.
Jim

[Nyleve]

I'm just a bit too chicken to work without gloves, but I am very careful when I work with them. I create more havoc when I'm replacing the cover - inner or outer - but I try to give the bees a chance to get away before I set it down. I have used those gardening gloves with the rubberized palms and they're ok. But I like the length of the leather gloves. As I said earlier, the bees were completely docile on a second visit - a more appropriate time of day and armed with a bit of smoke.