Angry Bees

hollybees · July 03, 2008, 09:21:12 AM

Hello,
My bees have become very aggressive and are hanging out on the front of the hive day and nite even in the rain.
This has been going on for a couple of weeks.

I opened the hive last weekend to do a full inspection and things looked pretty normal.
There were newly laid eggs and just tons of bees. The pollen stores are not as bountiful as they were and the lower chamber did not have much brood but the 2nd one did.
I think they are just overcrowded.
I'm using all medium supers and I just added the 3rd one, this reduced the number of bees hanging out front but there's still a fistful out there all the time.

I walked out there at 9:00 pm the other nite to change the sugar syrup like I've done many times,
approaching from the side in a slow manner and was stung immediately. Their just angry all the time!
When doing an inspection I get to the bottom super and their bombing me and trying to sting.

I used to do my inspections w/o gloves and had no problem. I wouldn't dare anymore they would sting the crap out of me.

They have a screened bottom board and I have it fully open so they can't be to hot and I don't see any fanning going on. There were no swarm cells, I can't figure out what the need or why there so aggressive now. The weather has been very erratic but not too terrible.
I was going to add a queen excluder and another super to see if that will get them busier and happier.

Their getting harder to like anymore, I have to be doing something wrong!!!
I would be grateful for any help.

Thank You for listening.........

Jerrymac · July 03, 2008, 09:38:03 AM

Are you in town or out in the country? Has something been disturbing the hives at night? Look for tracks and scratch marks.

Do you wear smelly stuff?
Been eating bananas?
Drinking coffee, beer?

Robo · July 03, 2008, 09:40:31 AM

Try throwing salt on the bottom board, they can become ornery if they are mineral deprived and sometimes giving them salt will do the trick. Otherwise re-queening is your best option.

rob...

hollybees · July 03, 2008, 09:50:23 AM

I'm in the country, I know there have been racoons around but have never seen any signs of them around the hives and I have a big rock on the top.
I try to be careful about smells, but I admit I don't know what they dislike.
thanks for the tip.
I do sometimes sit on a bench near them and sip a glass of wine and smoke a cigar just to relax and watch them, but I'm a good 5 feet away.

hollybees · July 03, 2008, 09:53:46 AM

Just plain table salt???

Scadsobees · July 03, 2008, 10:01:17 AM

It sounds like you installed a package. I'd guess that as the new queen in that package is populating the hive and the older bees are dying off that those new genetics are a little more aggressive.

Like Robo, I'd recommend requeening asap with tamer bees. It still takes a few weeks(3-6) for the new queen's bees to start taking over the guard duty.

The bees on the outside are probably incidental to the aggression, instead cause by a little overcrowding or heat, sounds like an extra super helped that a bit.

-rick

Ross · July 03, 2008, 10:17:46 AM

Sounds like they are a bit aggressive, but not over the top. Is there a flow? Any sign of SHB, etc? How often are you in them?

hollybees · July 03, 2008, 10:53:58 AM

I've seen no sign of any serious pest problems. I've seen mites but only a few adults.
Recently did a sticky board test and saw very few.
I do an inspection every 2 weeks.
It's hard not kill some during inspections their are just so many of them.
I know that make's them plenty mad and I think I take too long doing the inspections.I've read it should take 10 minute's, I have 3 meduims to go through it takes me 10 min. for each chamber at least.

thanks for your reply

Scadsobees · July 03, 2008, 11:16:21 AM

Quote from: try2beegood on July 03, 2008, 10:53:58 AM
I know that make's them plenty mad and I think I take too long doing the inspections.I've read it should take 10 minute's, I have 3 meduims to go through it takes me 10 min. for each chamber at least.

When you are new it takes a lot longer as you are looking very closely at everything and trying to understand everything. As you get more hives and more experience that time will come down fast. I find that the top box is fairly easy going, and they more testy toward the bottom, as you disturb the top boxes and the bottom boxes can smell and tell this. It seems to help to take the top boxes off first and start in the bottom and work your way up, but I don't usually remember to do this.

Rick

hollybees · July 03, 2008, 11:25:59 AM

Rick, I like that idea I'm going to try it next inspection.
thanks again

Keith13 · July 03, 2008, 01:09:48 PM

Quote from: try2beegood on July 03, 2008, 09:50:23 AM
I'm in the country, I know there have been racoons around but have never seen any signs of them around the hives and I have a big rock on the top.
I try to be careful about smells, but I admit I don't know what they dislike.
thanks for the tip.
I do sometimes sit on a bench near them and sip a glass of wine and smoke a cigar just to relax and watch them, but I'm a good 5 feet away.

5' away and can sit by them. to me that doesn't sound overly aggresive, not to downplay your concerns but I had a hive that within 50 yards you had better be on your toes or else the would pop ya

Keith

hollybees · July 03, 2008, 01:43:44 PM

Keith,
Thanks for the input because I really don't know what normal "is" being a rookie and all.

It was the change in behavior that surprised me, but they do have more honey and more brood now... more to protect i guess. I'm going to see how it goes.

Yeah, and I'll be more careful with smells too when i got zapped the other nite i did just get done barbacuing, which my wife just reminded me of...duh!
Guess there not a fan of BBQ.....hey, I'm learnin'

Thanks again

Keith13 · July 03, 2008, 01:52:19 PM

Also later in the season when the bees may not have a honey flow going strong you end up with bees hanging out in the hive with nowhere to go and nothing to do so they are avalable to protect the hive whereas before they were out foraging, and doing other things. Plus your populations have grown i'm sure. just something else to think about.

Keith

Jerrymac · July 03, 2008, 01:58:06 PM

And the weather! If it is overcast or chance of rain or windy forget it. And they know it is going to rain before the weather man does. :-D

Scadsobees · July 03, 2008, 02:07:36 PM

QuoteI walked out there at 9:00 pm the other nite to change the sugar syrup like I've done many times,
approaching from the side in a slow manner and was stung immediately. Their just angry all the time!
When doing an inspection I get to the bottom super and their bombing me and trying to sting.

I used to do my inspections w/o gloves and had no problem. I wouldn't dare anymore they would sting the crap out of me.

I'm going on this...they don't sound super hot, but they sound to me uncomfortably aggressive. Not AHB, but not fun to deal with either. As long as you are using plenty of smoke and not wearing black, and the weather is nice, if they are still unpleasant then its time for change.

I've had hives that were quite similar...you could stand within 5 feet of them but once you got into the hive... this is supposed to be fun not a scary chore!

In an outyard I wouldn't care so much.

Ross · July 03, 2008, 03:01:05 PM

I think you just have a hive that is hitting it's stride. Bigger hives are almost always more aggressive. Night is not a good time to mess with a hive as all the foragers are home. Clouds, wind, rain, etc can make a hive cranky. Again more bees are home then. A dearth after a flow or after feeding makes them cranky. Try to refill feeders before they go empty, and do it well before sunset.

hollybees · July 03, 2008, 10:09:48 PM

Thanks to all for the help!!! I've learned a ton....
So much good advice, one thing's for sure I'm not giving up!
I love trying to figure them out, and now I'm glad to have a resource of experience..that's Gold!!

Have a great 4th
Paul

Michael Bush · July 03, 2008, 10:16:35 PM

The same hive, smoked and not smoked is a world a apart.

Aggressiveness and bearding are unrelated things.

A strong hive, as mentioned, is more aggressive, but should be workable with a little (very little) smoke.

If they are too hot, requeen them. If they are bearding, give them ventilation and room and don't worry about it after that.