What the h.......?!?!

[BEEMAN]

Seems like I am not the only one who is having the same trouble with their hives being ornery. I have a hive that seems to hate the sound of a lawn mower. Every time I cut the grass I have to stay far away from the hive or put my suit on to cut near it. I forgot to tell my daughter about them and she dicided to cut my grass on the riding mower and got too close. Got stung on  the finger and back before she was able to get far enough away. I have ordered new queens to requeen some of my hives, ( the ornery one, and some swarms caught a while back).They came in today, but I don't know if I will get to replace the queens this weekend, as Fay is coming this way and the weather may not cooperate. I think the constantly changing weather has a lot to do with their attitude. Sorry about your stinging problem with your hive and hope it is only temporary.

[Brian D. Bray]

Oh, you gave me good laugh there, Jess! :-)  I guess you learned to dress up first, and take the veil off if not needed, not the opposite around :-) 

I've been surprised by my bees being in a bad mood a couple of times too.  One of my hives always was very calm and nice, and one day they attacked me just as I stopped by the hive.  I'm still not sure why, but I later disovered they had lost their queen, and I guess that made them grumpy...

Bees will also be proddy just prior to or right after thunder and lightening storms, raids from other bees, or harrassment by varmits (skunks, etc) so a proddy hive can require a little bit of investigation as to what's causing it.  I never go into a hive the day before, of, or after bad storms are forcast unless I want to get stung.