forgive me but i'm new at this

bulldog · July 05, 2010, 10:39:20 PM

what does it mean when you get the occasional bee that want to get in your face while you're working with your bees ? is she preparing to attack ? warning you ? or none of the above ?

buzzbee · July 05, 2010, 10:44:01 PM

Head butting is the non lethal way for the bee to attempt to drive you away.It is a warning . Be sure to veil up.

G3farms · July 05, 2010, 10:45:03 PM

Called head butts, just kind of a warning that you have riled her up a bit.

bulldog · July 05, 2010, 10:48:01 PM

thanks

buzzbee · July 05, 2010, 10:54:58 PM

lightly intimidating the first few times! :)

luvin honey · July 05, 2010, 11:26:16 PM

My experience has been that if they head into your hair, they're going to sting. Head butting is their way of saying, "Get outta here if you know what's good for you!" :-D

Michael Bush · July 06, 2010, 05:22:04 AM

It's SUPPOSED to be intimidating... that's the purpose. :)

bulldog · July 06, 2010, 11:49:29 AM

but what do you do at that point ? i just backed away for a bit thinking she meant to sting.

luvin honey · July 06, 2010, 12:36:18 PM

Quote from: bulldog on July 06, 2010, 11:49:29 AM
but what do you do at that point ? i just backed away for a bit thinking she meant to sting.

That's perfect. Sometimes you can just back off and let them calm down. Sometimes you're elbow deep in the hive and then just give thanks that you have a veil on. If it's your kid or you are not protected, you walk away very quickly :)

Scadsobees · July 06, 2010, 01:07:30 PM

Quote from: bulldog on July 06, 2010, 11:49:29 AM
but what do you do at that point ? i just backed away for a bit thinking she meant to sting.

Why I just haul my can of RAID out of my back pocket and spray that aggressive little sucker right down!! :roll: :-D

Ok, maybe not, but if I have my veil on I ignore her, and if I don't then I do exactly what she tells me and hightail it out of there!!!

saritacoleman · July 06, 2010, 04:09:44 PM

This happened to me the last time we were in the hive. I thought it was just because givemeone was pulling out a frame and there were soooo many bees that they just scattered. I didn't know it was a warning. I was geared up so I didn't think about it too much.

Michael Bush · August 06, 2010, 02:49:33 AM

I just ignore one bee pinging my veil. Several usually means I should have used a bit more smoke or waited a bit longer after smoking or a bit longer after poping the top loose before I opened. Or I need to put another puff across the top of the bars...

meade kampe · August 06, 2010, 03:22:02 AM

I've had the head butting attention of bees when working my hives. I just tell my unveiled husband to yell and wave his arms around wildly. That usually redirects their attentions. :-D

alfred · August 06, 2010, 10:07:21 AM

QuoteI've had the head butting attention of bees when working my hives. I just tell my unveiled husband to yell and wave his arms around wildly. That usually redirects their attentions.

That's funny! I'll have to see what my wife thinks of running distraction for me!