[log in to unmask] (John Taylor) writes:
>
>What I'm trying to get around to are questions - are my Italian bees
>unusually gentle?  Have I just lucked out and started handling them in a
>manner that doesn't bother them?  Or, am I soon going to have a larger
>population, that is busier flying once all the comb is drawn out and will be
>more likely to sting?
 
   They may be very gentle bees by genetics.  However, you'll know more about
that when the hive is full and the bees a bit congested.  Small hives are
usually quite good.
An old beekeeper once told me (with a sarcastic tone in his voice): "If you
don't want to get stung, keep your bees weak!"
 
   I've got a bunch of new hives now, with nucs having been installed in 10
frame hives, and they are averaging about 6-7 frames of brood.  Boy are they
nice to handle.  Most of the time I could work without a veil.  ---Not a
trick I'd try when loading a bunch of two story hives with 17 frames of brood
and bees hanging out the entrance.
 
  Some things that make bees nastier than nice:
1.  Genetics, of course
2.  Congestion inside the hive -- not enough supers?
3.  Several days unable to fly (poor weather)
4.  Building swarm cells
5.  Queenless, or queen failing -- not many young bees
6.  Pesticide hits  --  minor damage from Sevin will really make them MEAN,
other insecticides can too
7.  Thunder rumbling in the distance
8.  One mean hive in the beeyard giving off alarm odor, can set off others
too
9.  Odors -- sweat, cologne, perfume, hair spray, etc.
 
In general, the foragers (old bees) are the ones most apt to sting, the more
of them are out in the field, the gentler the hive will be.
 
   Hope your hive continues to be gentle, as it fills up.
 
[log in to unmask]    Dave and Janice Green,  PO Box 1200,  Hemingway,  SC
29554
 
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