Bees more defensive at the moment?

[MandF]

We have 2 hives - one created via a split in spring. The other we bought as a nuc with new queen last spring.

The old hive was always very gentle - never got pinged and I could literally work a foot away and not be bothered by them.

Obviously the queen in the new hive has some of the genetics from one of the drones she mated with, so I was expecting the new hive to potentially be more feisty, but even they would not bother me when working around the hives.

A few weeks ago, when standing in the vicinity of the hives observing (6') away, after a few minutes I'd get a defender buzzing round me - so moved away and left them.. it would generally stop following after I had walked another 6' away.

The last few days it has got a lot worse - my wife was working in the garden today, some 12' from the old 'gentle' hive, and a good 16' from the new hive. She had a defender buzzing round her and it followed her all the way back to the house (another 30-40'). I was sitting just outside, and after she had gone in, it found me and started buzzing me and I had to walk out the back door of the garden before it gave up.

I am just wondering if this is normal when there is a lot of honey on the hives - both have 3 supers and each has 5 frames or so almost fully capped, and a lot more on each full of nectar and starting to be capped. Last year we got no honey off our hive, so never got to the same stage regarding capped stores.

Also, obviously, we now have 2 hives, so each may be defending itself from robbers from the other.

Just wanted to check if this is to be expected, at this time of year in London? Is anyone having this?

Thanks

 

[greatbritishhoney]

What was the weather like at the time?
Mine are placid as anything when it's sunny but like devils when it's rainy (or muggy).

 

[MandF]

What was the weather like at the time?
Mine are placid as anything when it's sunny but like devils when it's rainy (or muggy).

It is a little muggy this morning - there is rain coming, and I know that can make bees a bit cranky also. They have been like it consistently for the last few weeks (not quite as bad as today), regardless of the weather.

 

[user 6228]

we have almost exactly the same situation...
a couple of bees causing trouble. I'm putting it down to a combination one or more of odd weather, recruiting from failed colonies , noxious extreme, extreme tail of behaviour distribution.

remedy : termination of the troublemaker individuals.
bad genetics should imply a more than a 0.01% problem.

 

[Black Comb]

They are more feisty when they have honey to defend.

 

[victor meldrew]

Went through my lot yesterday AM weather fine not too hot yet .
One colony I have are inclined to panic when manipulated (lot's of bees in the air but no stinging /following)
another problem is their over use of propolis ,
I have to change gloves (pvc surgical type) half way through each inspection, they are so full of propolis that I can't gently replace frames !
This colony is 8 frames of brood under a new Queen but behavior and propolos use remains the same

VM

 

[Flatters]

My bees are in the garden and they have started doing what you describe. All last year they were as good as gold. I am going to put a thin mesh screen in front of the hives to make them go up before flying and also stop the guard bees from coming straight out of the hive and going into defence mode. I have plan B if this does not work as I will move them out. I want the enjoyment of my garden and if the bees have to be located elsewhere then so be it.

 

[victor meldrew]

My bees are in the garden and they have started doing what you describe. All last year they were as good as gold. I am going to put a thin mesh screen in front of the hives to make them go up before flying and also stop the guard bees from coming straight out of the hive and going into defence mode. I have plan B if this does not work as I will move them out. I want the enjoyment of my garden and if the bees have to be located elsewhere then so be it.

I once got a tip from a lady beekeeper who insisted that blocking the entrance during inspections had the guards inside (not foragers yet) and confusing the returning bees, causing them to fiddle about trying to gain entry and ignoring the beekeeper !
Never tried it but can see the logic of it

VM

 

[OXFORDBEE]

Interesting Idea VM.

Another approach is to put the hive roof in front of the hive entrance (in the flight path) and put the supers on top.

Returning bees will join the supers and give the beekeeper some space, whilst the beekeeper works the brood box.

Just watch out when the bottom super is replaced as there might be a cluster of foragers hanging into the hive roof. A couple of puffs of smoke will push them up.

 

[victor meldrew]

Interesting Idea VM.

Another approach is to put the hive roof in front of the hive entrance (in the flight path) and put the supers on top.

Returning bees will join the supers and give the beekeeper some space, whilst the beekeeper works the brood box.

Just watch out when the bottom super is replaced as there might be a cluster of foragers hanging into the hive roof. A couple of puffs of smoke will push them up.

One problem with that is the distinct probability of drones getting in the supers plus the possibility of a returning (from mating) Queen getting in there ?
Neither a good idea , dead drones in the Queen excluder, queen laying in the supers !

VM