Stings

jxbeeman · May 23, 2005, 08:03:04 AM

i was just curious about what people consider a mean hive. i guess what my question is is this how many stings would be considered mean. i took out a hive out of a house on Saturday and aquired 15 + stings. part of that was that it wasn't totally nice out. i figured i better get it out because i have a line waiting for removal. anyway just got a few stings and was pondering what most people consider mean. thanks

Miss Chick-a-BEE · May 23, 2005, 02:35:49 PM

I guess I wouldn't consider a hive mean unless when coming after me they just wouldn't quit. When ever I have upset one of my hives, if I walk away for a minute, they just stop following me and settle down. My husband got stung in the glove probably 60 times while scooping a hive off a tree. So amount of stings wouldn't determine it for me personally.

Beth

jathomas · May 25, 2005, 11:37:59 AM

Also, if they do it on a pretty regular basis. If a hive stings me a few times every time I inspect it, even in good weather, I think that's a mean hive!

firetool · May 27, 2005, 11:55:25 AM

I would agree with Beth. I have a hive that if I don't smoke them they will fallow me for about 125 yards.When I smoke them they are much better behaved and only fallow me for 30 yards or so.I do plan on requeening them in the spring though.

Brian

thegolfpsycho · May 27, 2005, 12:42:06 PM

Your going to wait a whole year to requeen them? Fall queens are usually reasonably priced and abundant. With the added benefit of IMO, fewer bad matings. More consistent weather and all. 125 yards is a long way to be bobbin and weavin.

Michael Bush · May 28, 2005, 11:58:45 AM

If I had mean bees, and if I couldn't come up with a queen, I'd get rid of the old one. Her daughters offspring are unlikely to be worse and most likely will be better, but it's late enough you should be able to buy a queen reasonably now.

Mean bees take the fun out of beekeeping.

Barny · May 28, 2005, 01:07:50 PM

Yes Micheal it does take the fun out, but not the excitement!

lively Bee's · May 30, 2005, 02:31:33 AM

My "mean" Hive would attack any thing that moved over the hive your gloves, hive tool, smoker etc... This came about after I let them requeen there self. So they now have a New queen and all is nice and clam