Aggressive Guards

[BeeJayBee]

How black is a 'black bee'?

This black http://www.native-queen-bees.com/queen-order-page/

 

[Eyeman]

Hi
I've got all black queens with no stripes but the workers have stripes, cream coloured mainly. Got any pictures of the workers?

 

[BeeJayBee]

Try some of these pictures

 

[Eyeman]

Hi
Thanks for the link.
Most of the AMM pics Ive seen as well as those on the link show bees with pale white bands, is this the same as the 'black bee' or does there have to be no banding at all.

 

[Cussword]

Try some of these pictures

Yep, those are mine. Tried to put a new Carniolan queen in yesterday. Opened the cage to take the workers out and the queen was stuck to the fondant. I tore her in half.




.

 

[Eyeman]

Tried to put a new Carniolan queen in yesterday. Opened the cage to take the workers out and the queen was stuck to the fondant. I tore her in half.

Worse is to put the queen cage with fondant into a warming cabinet- lost too many queens in the past to fondant so now use marshmallow.

 

[sbisme]

This recent good weather has got the bees flying like never before.

I have noticed that they are no longer as tolerant of me standing around the hive watching what they are doing. Is this because they are fed up with my interest or is it a normal change of behaviour which occurs when the hive is building up strength.

I keep my hives at home so probably am guilty of poking around too much. Their change in behaviour will now change my habit of hanging around the hive.

I'm interested to know whether I have brought it upon myself

Thanks

Hi Beejuice I find if there is a flow on the bees don't bother me one bit,they just come and go like crazy, when things dry up they can bother me but I can usually tell there mood as soon as I approach, I have Buckfast bees. BTW.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Yep, those are mine. Tried to put a new Carniolan queen in yesterday. Opened the cage to take the workers out and the queen was stuck to the fondant. I tore her in half.




.

Oh no...............
I never bother taking attendants out. No problems so far

 

[Cussword]

Oh no...............
I never bother taking attendants out. No problems so far

Next time, they stay in.

 

[Hachi]

I am respectful of their space and they're respectful of me.

Sorry fella but to me that reads, they're on me in a heartbeat if I go near them so I keep away thus not very tolerant at all.

I re-homed two bursting Nucs yesterday and the guy helping me was just dressed in a string vest, no veil no nothing. I did warn him but they never touched him and I pulled their homes completely apart and re built them.

This summer will also see me and Snr Mngt (SWMBO) sitting in the garden with bee's within six feet drinking coffee and watching them and they never bother us.

 

[Hachi]

Worse is to put the queen cage with fondant into a warming cabinet- lost too many queens in the past to fondant so now use marshmallow.

Sorry cant visualise that..... would you expand a bit please plus the use of marshmallow.

Thanks

 

[madasafish]

Oh no...............
I never bother taking attendants out. No problems so far

+1

 

[Erichalfbee]

Sorry cant visualise that..... would you expand a bit please plus the use of marshmallow.

Thanks

I don't know about the warming cabinet but marshmallow in your queen cage is more forgiving than fondant and the bees eat their way through faster. I keep a packet of those mini ones that go on top of fancy hot chocolate ( yuk) in my queen box

 

[Cussword]

I don't know about the warming cabinet but marshmallow in your queen cage is more forgiving than fondant and the bees eat their way through faster. I keep a packet of those mini ones that go on top of fancy hot chocolate ( yuk) in my queen box

If I bought those the Boss would eat them before we arrived home.

 

[yeogi75]

]

I don't know about the warming cabinet but marshmallow in your queen cage is more forgiving than fondant and the bees eat their way through faster. I keep a packet of those mini ones that go on top of fancy hot chocolate ( yuk) in my queen box

I use them from Aldi's, mini marshmallows six fit in great beats fondant and not sticky to use, and bees eat them no problem I always have six cages primed and ready

 

[sbisme]

Wow some good conversation going on here but talk about off topic,, from aggressive bees to marshmallows drop us a pm Beejuice I will pop up to see these bees and will bring some marshmallows

 

[Fatbee]

Same problem, except these little dears followed me across a 100 yard field after inspection. I had to sit and wait until they were bored. I got a damp bum.
Definitely do not like black.....ish bees They need a new queen. Carniolan?


.

I've got a hive just like that. Calm queen disappeared last year from. Demaree and the resulting replacement queen has bred some followers - not greeters - and fine to inspect. Just won't leave you alone when leaving. A right pain. Going to be re-queened soon.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I never bother taking attendants out. No problems so far

+1

Me three

 

[steve56616]

One of my hives aren't very nice, just waiting for my new queens to arrive.
Open the top and they are there looking at me and jumping on my hands as soon as move. Then they are all up at my face then they follow for ages. Hate them like this, takes the enjoyment away for me

 

[Eyeman]

Sorry cant visualise that..... would you expand a bit please plus the use of marshmallow.

Queen is in a queen cage with some fondant blocking the entrance. The queen cage is in a warming cabinet at 30 degrees waiting for the purchaser to call and pick her up. The warmth of the cabinet melts the fondant and poor queenie gets stuck in the mess.
Others have explained how marshmallows work