Bees with attitude

Some reasons bees act the way bees do.

A•Bee•Cs Beginning Beekeeping BEE-ATTITUDES You’re causally strolling the back 40 when, bam! Out of nowhere a stinger pierces your right cheek. Someone’s got a bad attitude! Attitudes of honey bees vary dramatically dependent upon environmental conditions and seemingly astrological positions of the celestial bodies. In other words, no one is really certain what the colonies occupants are considering at any one specific point in time. There are general guidelines though. I suggest we all bee-aware and attempt to understand and honor the BeeAttitudes of a hive. BAD BEE-ATTITUDES 1. Bees bouncing off your veil (warning you to keep a safe distance) may be caused by: • Bumping or moving hives • Using an overabundance of smoke • Smoker fuel which is petroleum or wax based (cardboard) • Leaving colonies open too long • Inclement, cold, violent or unsettled weather • Dropping frames • Queen-less hives or those housing a failing queen • Toxic chemical applications • The aftermath of skunks severely depleting bee stocks • Diseased colonies • Too much perfume or deodorant • Human breath • Cigarette smoke: evidently hives don’t have non-smoking sections • You! When you haven’t greeted them properly—smiling while snapping a ‘selfie’ 2. Bees aggressive behavior (with major stinging) may be caused by: • Hives targeted by vehicles or pelted with foreign objects cast by bored or drunken joy-riders • Cavorting cows knocking hives over in their quest for the perfect back scratcher • Honey flow dwindling If you have a question you would like to share, email it to Editor@KelleyBees.com by Phill Remick