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george_in_ma

Bad@ss bees--how do I sweeten their disposition?

George_in_MA
18 years ago

My wife and I are new beekeepers. Early in the season we installed two hives of bees. Everything was going well, so we decided to get a third hive. This third hive of bees is of a very different temperment than the previous two, which are very docile and really a pleasure to visit. These new bees are very aggressive and simply nasty. My wife doesn't like visiting this hive, as the bees seem to ignore the smoke and try to attack us. I've begun wearing gardening gloves anytime I visit the hive, and on one of my last visits, one of them stung me right through one of the gloves (my first sting after numerous visits to each of the other hives).

I realize that all beekeepers get stung, and that any visit to a hive eventually will be regarded as an intrusion by even the most docile bees. But this third package of bees we have are just ornery. If all bees were like these I'd give up the hobby.

Anyone have experience with nasty bees, and have any ideas how I can put them in a better mood?

Thanks in advance for any insight.

George

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