Chris asked:
> a) The bees look rather like Amm, dark with narrow tomenta. Is it their
> reputation for bad temper that made the operator wear gloves?
Yes, working towards A.m.m.
They are very good tempered - these can be worked without smoke and probably
without a veil, although I do not risk that. The reasons for the gloves are
twofold:
first propolis - we do not want it all over the steering wheel etc when
moving between apiaries
second hygiene - we use soda wash to clean gloves and hive tool after each
hive, and discard the disposable gloves after each apiary.
Best wishes
Peter Edwards
beekeepers at stratford-upon-avon.freeserve.co.uk
www.stratford-upon-avon.freeserve.co.uk/
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