Anyone else have bees that look like this?

[Do224]

As the title says really. Most of the pics of bees I’ve seen on this forum are of a more yellowy stripey looking bee .

Reason I’m asking is because mine seem quite aggressive and I was wondering if anyone else had any experience of similar bees?

 

[Sutty]

Mine are dark bees, and look similar, not aggressive.

 

[pargyle]

Yes ... most of mine are small black bees ... not agressive.

 

[Do224]

Thanks both for putting my mind at rest....perhaps they were just having a bad day.

I’m going to go into them again in the next day or two, but I’ll do it mid afternoon rather than 9:30 in the morning and see if they’re happier

 

[Curly green finger's]

Most of mine are dark, how aggressive are they? Do you get vail bouncers followers etc.
Or are they just a bit defensive after opening up.
If they are very aggressive you need to requeen.

 

[Curly green finger's]

Thanks both for putting my mind at rest....perhaps they were just having a bad day.

I’m going to go into them again in the next day or two, but I’ll do it mid afternoon rather than 9:30 in the morning and see if they’re happier

Afternoon is better as there will be less flying bees around.

I've inspected colonys at 10am before not a nice experience when all the bees are at home but needs must.

 

[Swarm]

Do you know any experienced beekeepers who could have a look through them with you to put your mind at ease? Mine are that dark and darker, trust me colouration is no guide and incidentally the worst I've had were orange stripey ones.

 

[user 20297]

My bees are dark...theIr stripes are a grey colour and not very well defined. Excepting when I made them queenless they have been very patient with my fumblings. So far this year I've suffered no stings despite spending half my waking hours sitting unprotected on their doorsteps.

 

[ericbeaumont]

mine seem quite aggressive and I was wondering if anyone else had any experience of similar bees?

Bees are not aggressive but are defensive to varying degrees. If beekeepers persist in using the word aggressive how are we to persuade the general public that bees and other pollinators are not a threat?

Many times I've heard the same old story: I love honeybees but hate wasps. No real reason given, so my guess is that such fearful dislike is the result of sudden intimacy as wasps fly closer to feed near humans late in the year. I persuade them that it's easy to feed a wasp from your hand...

A month ago an apiary of 12 had 5/5 for temper but when I went through them last Monday they were extremely defensive and hard work to get through: noisy, leaping out of the boxes, running fast on combs, in my face all day, burrowing in wrists if they could.

Why the difference? Barometric pressure didn't help (although I opened another lot a day later while distant thunder was playing and they did nothing) but perhaps these sensed that I'd had a glass or two of red the night before, or eaten a banana that morning. They were working hard on borage, so no excuses there.

If it lasts, only one outcome: the boot.

 

[Curly green finger's]

Do you know any experienced beekeepers who could have a look through them with you to put your mind at ease? Mine are that dark and darker, trust me colouration is no guide and incidentally the worst I've had were orange stripey ones.

Buetifull

 

[Swarm]

Noticed mine turned runny last week, every colony. As you say, there is usually a reason but if it's all the time she gets it.

Bees are not aggressive but are defensive to varying degrees. If beekeepers persist in using the word aggressive how are we to persuade the general public that bees and other pollinators are not a threat?

Many times I've heard the same old story: I love honeybees but hate wasps. No real reason given, so my guess is that such fearful dislike is the result of sudden intimacy as wasps fly closer to feed near humans late in the year. I persuade them that it's easy to feed a wasp from your hand...

A month ago an apiary of 12 had 5/5 for temper but when I went through them last Monday they were extremely defensive and hard work to get through: noisy, leaping out of the boxes, running fast on combs, in my face all day, burrowing in wrists if they could.

Why the difference? Barometric pressure didn't help (although I opened another lot a day later while distant thunder was playing and they did nothing) but perhaps these sensed that I'd had a glass or two of red the night before, or eaten a banana that morning. They were working hard on borage, so no excuses there.

If it lasts, only one outcome: the boot.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Thanks both for putting my mind at rest....perhaps they were just having a bad day.

I’m going to go into them again in the next day or two, but I’ll do it mid afternoon rather than 9:30 in the morning and see if they’re happier

Are these the swarms you collected?
Is there any need to be looking in?

 

[Do224]

Are these the swarms you collected?
Is there any need to be looking in?

Yes they are. Swarm 1 is getting towards filling the brood box so I was looking in to assess whether to add a super and to check for swarm cells.

Aside from that, I’d probably still be having a look in. As a beginner how else would I learn?

 

[Erichalfbee]

Yes they are. Swarm 1 is getting towards filling the brood box so I was looking in to assess whether to add a super and to check for swarm cells.

Aside from that, I’d probably still be having a look in. As a beginner how else would I learn?

Yes but as a beginner you still don't look just for the sake of looking. You look if you need to
I know how hard that is. Your first bees give you such itchy fingers

 

[Swarm]

If you keep going in every couple of days, you will probably learn all about defensive behaviour as they are constantly being disturbed. Swarming should be abating now as the bees have their minds on winter but even at the height of swarm season, five day inspections should be ample.
I'm not rifling through my production colonies now, most I'm doing is shuffling super combs and adding more supers. I'll do a final brood check when treatments go on.
In your case, with a swarm, I'd assess numbers, is it heaving with bees? Remember lots are out on the rounds. Add a super for space if you think they need it. You've inspected for BIAS and all is well, leave them go to town and concentrate on manipulating the super frames to get them all drawn, shuffle central full frames outwards and fetch the partially drawn/filled ones in, etc. That will give you a chance to get to know your bees and satisfy your enthusiasm a bit.

 

[drdrday]

Don't know if you've already got one Do224, but a clear crownboard is invaluable, especially in a building colony. Without supers on top, it gives you a view directly into the brood nest, and lets you appease your curiosity about what they're up to without disturbing them. Great when you're just starting and worrying about this, that and everything else.

 

[Do224]

Yes but as a beginner you still don't look just for the sake of looking. You look if you need to
I know how hard that is. Your first bees give you such itchy fingers

Yeah I get that you should have a reason to inspect. I’ve only been inspecting every 6 or 7 days though. I presume you shouldn’t inspect too often to reduce the risk of squashing your queen and to reduce disturbance generally as it sets them back a bit. Perhaps there are other reasons I’m unaware of?

On a positive note they were faaaar better when I opened them up to finish the inspection this afternoon. It was 26 degrees and 2pm and I think that made all the difference. Last time it was 17 degrees and 9:30am (I suspect it was actually a degree or two colder in the woodland where the hive is).

Since Tuesday they had drawn out two more brood frames, presumably as a result of the better weather. I moved the last frame of foundation inwards and gave them a full super of foundation.

 

[Markthebuilder]

As the title says really. Most of the pics of bees I’ve seen on this forum are of a more yellowy stripey looking bee .

Reason I’m asking is because mine seem quite aggressive and I was wondering if anyone else had any experience of similar bees?

View attachment 27235

These are my darker strain… originally they only had1 stripe but at some point they got a new queen , they have always been gentle hence why I have persisted with them