Interesting experience today.

richter1978 · September 23, 2015, 09:17:23 PM

I have read several times that some odors will set bees off. So far, I've not noted anything doing it. Gasoline, alcohol, sunscreen have all been near with no defensiveness. Today, I tipped over a wheelbarrow load of fermenting garden trimmings a few feet from the hives. When I came back through a few minutes later I noticed several bees flying around the pile and then several trying to sting me! I had work to do there and for about ten minutes they were agro and then it was all back to normal.

splitrock · September 23, 2015, 09:42:02 PM

LOL, close one! You'll be more cautious next time i am sure.

TRYING to sting you? You would have been had had they been trying imho.

KeyLargoBees · September 23, 2015, 10:47:04 PM

<in YODA Voice) THERE IS NO TRY ONLY DO!!!!

mtnb · September 24, 2015, 09:32:29 AM

^^^ lol funny replies ^^^

I wonder what they liked about the trimmings...

...you know how in books you read about how you should always wear white? The other day I was going to work and went over to them to say bye lol. As I was walking, I realized my work outfit was black from head to toe so I sat with the for like 5 minutes and they didn't mind at all. lol I often go out in the mornings in my bath robe which is big and brown. they don't care. lol

Thanks for sharing richter. They are such interesting critters.

richter1978 · September 24, 2015, 12:42:02 PM

Strange, they seemed interested in stinging my shirt or getting in my hair. I couldn't tell which hive they came from either. Probably will not dump anymore anaerobic rot near them again.

richter1978 · September 24, 2015, 12:43:27 PM

Also, I saw in Bee Culture a month or so ago, one of the columns had a picture of bees working a compost pile!

KeyLargoBees · September 24, 2015, 01:30:01 PM

They work my spent grain from brewing....until it dries then they ignore it....when the bees are done it's time to put in the composter.

mtnb · September 27, 2015, 04:13:52 PM

Quote from: richter1978 on September 24, 2015, 12:43:27 PM
Also, I saw in Bee Culture a month or so ago, one of the columns had a picture of bees working a compost pile!

Yes! I saw that! They were working his cow feed or something. Interesting about your compost pile KLB. I haven't seen them on mine yet and it's right next to their watering station. What do they get off of that? Do they use it for bee bread?

KeyLargoBees · September 27, 2015, 10:45:32 PM

I am a hombrewer and when I am done with the grain I spread it out to dry a little before I put it on the compost pile....there is still a little residual "sugar" on the grains from the mash process even though I try and leech it all out for my beer. They aren't working it hard core but they are interested in it...I spilled some sweet wort (liquid from the mash process extracting sugar from the grains) the other day during a brew session and didn't clean it up right away and had 4-5 girls on it lapping it up when I went to hose everything down an hour later.....and have had them Kamikaze into the wort as I am transferring it into my boil kettle...have had to modify my brewing some to keep them out of the kettles since the home yard hives are close enough to get curious about the sweet goodness that is "pre-beer" :)

mtnb · September 27, 2015, 11:29:31 PM

That is so funny! The left over sugars. Makes sense. Mine have been especially curious about something around my house this past week. Have had several visitors inside and out. lol

Beewildered61 · September 28, 2015, 08:09:33 PM

We have had a few get in the house, in the bedroom after water... For some reason they are trying to get the water in the frame of the window a/c unit, with all the rain we are having and a birdbath full of water! And they insist on drinking from a 5 gallon bucket with a crack in it that leaks on the patio. There isn't maybe 3 inches in the bucket, but they will be all over the crack in the side.

ed/La. · September 28, 2015, 09:59:20 PM

The bees are probably after the mycelium growing in compost. Must watch video on you tube. Paul Stamets - How Mushrooms Can Save Bees & Our Food Supply | Bioneers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAw_Zzge49c

chux · September 29, 2015, 10:45:56 AM

Quote from: MT Bee Girl on September 24, 2015, 09:32:29 AM
...you know how in books you read about how you should always wear white? The other day I was going to work and went over to them to say bye lol. As I was walking, I realized my work outfit was black from head to toe so I sat with the for like 5 minutes and they didn't mind at all. lol I often go out in the mornings in my bath robe which is big and brown. they don't care. lol

I'm glad your girls don't care about colors. I have had different experiences. Oh, I had a black lab and a yellow/white lab running around me when I installed my first package of bees. They stung the yellow lab maybe twice. They lit the black lab up. Quite a few stings before he got away. And the one time I opened a hive wearing a black shirt...not good. It's interesting that bees can be so different in temperment.

I've had bees interested in a pile of wood shavings, but not angered by them.

Hops Brewster · September 29, 2015, 06:20:25 PM

Quote from: KeyLargoBees on September 24, 2015, 01:30:01 PM
They work my spent grain from brewing....until it dries then they ignore it....when the bees are done it's time to put in the composter.

yeah, there's still a lot of sugar left in there, even with a highly efficient mash and sparge system. At least you'll get it second-hand as honey, which you can use to make a good honey ale.

Michael Bush · September 30, 2015, 09:25:45 AM

>they don't care. lol

You can believe that if you like. But if you ever get aggressive bees, you'll find a carpet of stingers on everything black and almost none anywhere else.

mtnb · September 30, 2015, 10:12:21 AM

lol yes, I understand that. lol I have experience with ONE big hive so far and have met and looked in on a couple of others. Yes, me big beekeeper. lol

One was Queenless and not nice at all. lol I'm sure that when I've had as much experience as most of you all, I won't be saying things like that anymore. lol But for now, my Queen has bred with some very nice docile local fellows. Lol

LMasters · September 30, 2015, 12:00:42 PM

Just a little question/comment especially to MT Bee Girl.......I've heard that it is not good to have hives close to compost piles, as SHB thrives in compost piles. Makes sense to me.....but, Im just repeating what I heard.

mtnb · September 30, 2015, 01:17:54 PM

Oh really? I haven't heard that and didn't know. The pile is about 150 yards from their hive but the water is right next to it. They haven't touched it. Thank goodness I guess. I'll have to look into that further. Thank you, LMasters!

At least you'll get it second-hand as honey, which you can use to make a good honey ale.

I think this is funny lol

Michael Bush · September 30, 2015, 02:33:36 PM

SHB aren't going to live on everything in your compost, but they are NOT obligate parasites of honey bees. They can live and reproduce in rotting fruit. But they aren't going to reproduce on coffee grounds...

sc-bee · September 30, 2015, 03:38:54 PM

Quote from: Michael Bush on September 30, 2015, 09:25:45 AM
>they don't care. lol

You can believe that if you like. But if you ever get aggressive bees, you'll find a carpet of stingers on everything black and almost none anywhere else.

I used to wear a watch with a nylon black ban. Notice I said used to