Lemon smell

[SixFooter]

Went to apiary today and 3 hives had blown over. There was a very noticeble smell of lemons as I was putting the hives back together. I guess it was the nasanov but I have never noticed it before, even when dealing with swarms.

Quite a few stings so I guess the bees are OK.

 

[drstitson]

Not more banana-ish or slightly more sickly/peardrop like?

that'll be the alarm pheromone.

get the suit washed before the season starts.

 

[the naked beekeeper]

That lemony smell sounds like sting to me!

Never smelt nasanov before but the lemon I do regnise, especially when you get the odd bee right in front of your nose, on your veil, desperately trying to lower its sting into you!! Now that's lemony!!!

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Or indeed if you get stung but three inches from your nose (middle of forehead) which i did this morning

 

[Midland Beek]

The Nassanov gland produces the 'come here' pheremone, while the Koschevnikov gland (located by the sting) and mandibular gland produce the two alarm pheremones.

 

[SixFooter]

Ah.
You're right. I forgot to zip up the veil and got 3 or 4 stings to the head. Heard about the banana smell but not the lemon smell.
I dont react to stings much any more, so it's not a problem. Scary though and not the first time I've forgot about the veil zip.

 

[victor meldrew]

Ah.
You're right. I forgot to zip up the veil and got 3 or 4 stings to the head. Heard about the banana smell but not the lemon smell.
I dont react to stings much any more, so it's not a problem. Scary though and not the first time I've forgot about the veil zip.

And here's me thinking that was my party piece
VM

 

[Cazza]

Went to apiary today and 3 hives had blown over. There was a very noticeble smell of lemons as I was putting the hives back together. I guess it was the nasanov but I have never noticed it before, even when dealing with swarms.

Quite a few stings so I guess the bees are OK.

If you stick your head in a recently collected swarm when they are settled in the box/skep and sniff you can clearly smell lemon. It must be the nasenov smell because they are usually at it like mad and not alarmed?

Cazza

 

[victor meldrew]

Ivor Curry, Penrith uses oil of lemon in water to spray his colonies (better than smoke is his argument ) the leman smell is like the Nasanov smell.
Banana/ peardrop smell is that of a highly alarmed colony !.
Do not mistake lemon essential oil for Citronella .
VM

 

[Luminos]

Is this why lemongrass is used for bait hives?

 

[tonybloke]

Is this why lemongrass is used for bait hives?

yep

 

[Midland Beek]

Do not mistake lemon essential oil for Citronella .
VM

Unless you want some fun ...

 

[Arfermo]

Got a single sting yesterday within 2" of the crown jewels when putting on more forndant after evaporating oxalic for second dose. Bees in fine fettle but it'll teach me not to assume they will be too dozy to walk up my trousers because I was too lazy to but boots on. Ain't they just too cute? Bit like out flaming moggie really. Perhaps they learn from each other?

 

[SixFooter]

Got a single sting yesterday within 2" of the crown jewels when putting on more forndant after evaporating oxalic for second dose. Bees in fine fettle but it'll teach me not to assume they will be too dozy to walk up my trousers because I was too lazy to but boots on. Ain't they just too cute? Bit like out flaming moggie really. Perhaps they learn from each other?

So the question is, do your crown jewels now smell like lemons or bananas?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

So the question is, do your crown jewels now smell like lemons or bananas?

If he can get close enough to sniff them he's a very lucky man!

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

If you stick your head in a recently collected swarm Cazza

.......you must be madder than mad Jim Mc Mad the winner of the maddest madman in Britain award!!
But seriously - From 'The Honey Bee Democracy' by Prof. Tom Seeley (Chaper 2 - page 40)
'The whole cloud of bees will condense into a beard shaped cluster. The worker bees are attracted by the scent of the queen and by the strong lemony odour of the attraction pheromones that the first settlers are releasing from their scent organs (located near the tip of the abdomen) and are dispersing by fanning their wings.'

 

[Cazza]

.......you must be madder than mad Jim Mc Mad the winner of the maddest madman in Britain award!!
But seriously - From 'The Honey Bee Democracy' by Prof. Tom Seeley (Chaper 2 - page 40)
'The whole cloud of bees will condense into a beard shaped cluster. The worker bees are attracted by the scent of the queen and by the strong lemony odour of the attraction pheromones that the first settlers are releasing from their scent organs (located near the tip of the abdomen) and are dispersing by fanning their wings.'

Methinks you have been watching too much Blackadder!
Cazza

 

[JamezF]

Got a single sting yesterday within 2" of the crown jewels when putting on more forndant after evaporating oxalic for second dose.

Forget natural beekeeping. This is naturist beekeeping.

James

 

[the naked beekeeper]

Forget natural beekeeping. This is naturist beekeeping.

James

I'm in!

 

[For want of a better word]

Forget natural beekeeping. This is naturist beekeeping.
Had to read that again!
theNaked beekeeper not the Nackered beekeeper

Always thought that was a strange title!

Oh the fun of Dyslexia!