well. if they carry on they will end up in field too!!!
On Tue, 13 Jul 2021 at 11:17, Stefanie Taeumer <stefanietaeumer@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Hi Dawn,
I had a problem with one of my colonies 2 years ago. After I removed 3
honey frames (National) they became really defensive. I wasn't too worried,
thinking they would calm down after a few days. But they didn't, they
became even more defensive in fact, attacking me while I was sweeping the
terrace, completely out of sight, etc. As I kept them at work and the
garden owners were due to arrive for a holiday I had to move the hive to a
field, after asking the farmer for permission. They were quite calm last
year and I was tempted to move them back to the work garden as it is so
much more convenient, but I am glad I didn't because they are quite
defensive again this year, and I haven't even taken any honey or opened the
hive. Maybe it is the adjacent rape bloom which triggered it again?
Stefanie
On Mon, Jul 12, 2021 at 6:51 AM Dawn Gosling <magikmum49@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Thank youPaul. and everyone! That makes me feel better, I think I
just worry that they will sting my 3 year old grandson if they are in this
frame of mind - I want him to be interested in the bees and work with them
in the future. He now thinks "bees give you honey and go in your hair!"
If they continue this behaviour can I move them to a field or something?
Dawn
On Sun, 11 Jul 2021 at 15:09, Oxnatbees <oxnatbees@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Hi Dawn,
You are absolutely right, bees are notoriously edgy in unsettled weather
and just before thunderstorms.
Lawnmowers create a lot of engine vibration, and it's around the same
frequencies that bees use for communication when they do their waggle dance
on comb. Comb is tuned to transmit these frequencies... And hives are like
big drums... So the vibration is very noticeable inside the hive. If it's a
petrol mower pumping out fumes, it's particularly annoying to them.
Also, swarms change character after they've got young to defend.
I always wear a veil when mowing my back lawn and switch to a full suit
near the hives.
I can't say why you were stung whn you were not mowing... if it was
AFTER you had mowed, I would say they were still on guard. But it was
before. Were you wearing perfume?
Paul
On Sat, 10 Jul 2021, 18:06 Dawn Gosling, <magikmum49@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
My bees have seemed to have changed personality. I could always walk up
to them and sit near them, but the other day I got stung on my face whilst
talking to family sitting in a normal area of the garden,. The following
day I got stung on my face again whilst mowing the lawn - not an unusual
practice . Does this weather make the bees as grumpy as us???
Dawn
