They really lit me up.....ouch!

[Mason]

I have a hive that I was inspecting this weekend.  Everything was going as usual.  I was about 3 frames to the end of the inspection when I started noticing young larva and eggs.  No supercedure or swarm cells found.  I was thinking I was probably getting close to the queen when all of a sudden they came at me in full force.  I had both of my hands covered in bees stinging the living crud out of me.  Probably got tagged 25-30 times.  I shook them off,  put my hands under my arms and backed away from the hive.  They settled down and I returned and put the frames back in place and re-set the hive.  I just didn't have the guts to look at those last 3 frames for the queen.

The hive was crowded and I put on a second deep.  Any ideas if that might be the reason they totally freaked out on me.  I have never experienced that before and quite honestly don't want to again.  I always get stung 3-5 times in the hands on an inspection but this was ridiculous.   

Mason

[AllenF]

Crush a bee or 2 with a frame and that can set them off.   Smoke can help cover up that smell.   

[Kathyp]

this is a good time of the year for them to be fussy.  they are protecting the honey and if there has been any robbing, they'll be looking at you as an attacker.  one jar of the frame or one sting, and you are done.  smoke.  i am bad about wanting to fire up the smoker, but at this time of the year it is a must.

[iddee]

Yep, Those who work bees without smoke can expect that from time to time. Normal behavior.

[thegolfpsycho]

Probably not being helpful here, but why did you think you needed to see the queen?  If you saw eggs and larvae, the colony looked healthy without any obvious problems, is there any point in continueing to dig?  Bees are easy to work when they are making honey.  They are happy, prosperous and busy.  They are more influenced by the conditions at the time, than the amount of honey they have in stores.  If south winds, which usually lower humidity, dry up nectar, happen, they get testy.  Weather has a huge effect on their mood.  Obviously, pheremones play a big part of a colony getting riled up, alarm, or excitement.  I don't think they check their 401k and decide to paint their faces and carry a kbar.  Anyway, make note of the conditions when you work them, and how they reacted that day, and at that time of day.  As suggested, lite the smoker, and keep it lit.  Bees are fascinating and expecially when new, hard to leave alone.