How much aggression is normal?

[lebouche]

Was reading this thread http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=27898&highlight=aggressive&page=3 and it struck me that I have no idea how to tell if a colony is too aggressive. How much aggression is normal?
Obviously if I'm being seriously attacked as in some of the stories I have heard here I will know…
My bees for instance chased me twice today and one stung me through my jumper, I was up close to the hives….so deserved it really. They also seem to chase me quite far. A good 10-15 meters and into the house sometimes.
Is this normal? They also always spill out of the hive whenever it is opened. I read this is called runny behaviour?
The bee inspector said they were not particularly aggressive in his opinion..although he did get stung.
So what should beginners expect from a healthy normal colony?

Thanks

 

[Heather]

When I inspect a hive I will 'allow' them to ping off my veil a little.. I am invading their area.
They may also 'follow' me a few yards as I leave the hive.
If they continue to chase me when well from the hive.. out of order and time to act. Requeen from gentle colony and within 6 weeks hive much nicer.

It can vary according to weather and condition of hive.. no queen- they can be evil..You will soon learn difference- but queenright mid summer- do not accept nasty chasing bees.. not fair on other people.

 

[user 6228]

When I inspect a hive I will 'allow' them to ping off my veil a little.. I am invading their area.
They may also 'follow' me a few yards as I leave the hive.
If they continue to chase me when well from the hive.. out of order and time to act. Requeen from gentle colony and within 6 weeks hive much nicer.

It can vary according to weather and condition of hive.. no queen- they can be evil..You will soon learn difference- but queenright mid summer- do not accept nasty chasing bees.. not fair on other people.

so you are saying they have to persistent offenders, doing this behavoiur on multiple occassions to be considered "aggressive"?

 

[itma]

... it struck me that I have no idea how to tell if a colony is too aggressive. How much aggression is normal?
...

You need to get out more!

Seriously, you need to get experience of LOTS of other colonies, not just your own.
The local association (and your mates amongst the membership) really come into play here.

 

[Gilberdyke John]

Was reading this thread http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=27898&highlight=aggressive&page=3 and it struck me that I have no idea how to tell if a colony is too aggressive. How much aggression is normal?
Obviously if I'm being seriously attacked as in some of the stories I have heard here I will know…
My bees for instance chased me twice today and one stung me through my jumper, I was up close to the hives….so deserved it really. They also seem to chase me quite far. A good 10-15 meters and into the house sometimes.
Is this normal? They also always spill out of the hive whenever it is opened. I read this is called runny behaviour?
The bee inspector said they were not particularly aggressive in his opinion..although he did get stung.
So what should beginners expect from a healthy normal colony?

Thanks

Bees will be bees. One of the basic tenets of beekeeping that was on the old Yorkshire Beehives site was "you WILL get stung at some point". I would listen to your bee inspector.

 

[Russel]

Where do you keep them and if this is their normal behaviour in good weather, I'd consider re-queening. You'll enjoy your bee keeping much more with nicer bees and less complaints if they've been bothering people. The other thing to consider is by keeping aggressive bees, the bad temperament will be passed on far and wide via her drones!

 

[Black Comb]

if they are stinging you like that without any inspection disturbance (I assume you are not inspecting this time of year) them IMO they are too aggressive.

 

[Swarm]

Excessively defensive from the description. Agree with Heather on following a few yards but they should lose interest and go not carry on the offensive.

 

[itma]

I'm not in any way disagreeing that they do sound rather too 'defensive'.

However, consideration does need to be given to what is happening to them.
If they are loaded with varroa, are Q-, have been bumped around, just had their stores confiscated (or robbed), or any number of other possible disturbances (even a rocking hive stand), they probably will become 'cranky'.
If their temperament changes, investigate. There will be a reason.


Oh, and lets not forget the old favourites, scented bathroom products and beekeeper hygiene. By the latter, I don't ONLY mean bathing, I'm specifically referring to suits/clothes/gloves that have previously been stung and not washed out. This refers particularly to leather gloves.
And bees really do dislike dark fleecy clothing ...
Consider all possibilities.

And do meet lots of other bees for comparison! (For which you will be expected to have a clean suit, gloves and boots.)

 

[Beesand]

When I inspect a hive I will 'allow' them to ping off my veil a little.. I am invading their area.
They may also 'follow' me a few yards as I leave the hive.
If they continue to chase me when well from the hive.. out of order and time to act. Requeen from gentle colony and within 6 weeks hive much nicer.

It can vary according to weather and condition of hive.. no queen- they can be evil..You will soon learn difference- but queenright mid summer- do not accept nasty chasing bees.. not fair on other people.

The first hive I had 3 years ago was quite nasty and they would actively chase you and ping off the veil continuously. Being a new beekeeper I thought naively that this was normal behaviour and kept at it until I got anaphylactic shock. Following this I sought advice and re-queened the hive. What a transformation, the bees are now calm and a pleasure to deal with.
18 months on, I'm still having venom injections every six weeks but I'm back beekeeping with a valuable lesson learned and a no nonsense approach with aggressive bees. It's too dangerous to you and others around you.

 

[madasafish]

In my view the following traits are entirely and completely unacceptable:

Attacking when passing by a hive.
Attacking when inspecting a hive.
Following
Running on the combs.
Attacking when cutting/strimming grass .


And I would requeen on persistent behaviour. No ifs, ands or buts.