Eric Abell asks if anyone has heard of someone developing hives after
working bees.  He does not say whether the person was stung or how he was
involved with the bees, i.e. what type of work did he do.
 
I recall at least two persons developing hives and itching on the
extremities and local swelling after being stung once.  After several
stings the hives spread to other parts of the body - chest, back and under
the arms.  Then breathing impacts started.  They were desensitized and quit
working around bees.  One person was also subsequently allergic to mosquito
bites and reacted the same as though stung by bees.  Three years later one
person would have a sinus condition within minutes of being exposed to a
beekeepers coveralls that had been used in the field for several days.
Three years later he was stung and had no reaction at all.
 
But one must also consider other things such as a change in diet, pollen,
or mold  allergies.
 
Ian Watson wonders why bees won't draw comb in the top super.  I presume he
is describing a two story deep hive with two shallow supers.  There may be
several causes:
a) the size of the colony - they will draw comb in the area covered by the
bee cluster somewhat depending on temperature and nectar flow intensity,
b) the nectar flow is slow - so they want to put it into the top of the
brood nest,
c) often, but not always, bees hesitate to draw a super of foundation
unless it is baited in the center with two or three drawn comb or combs
with honey,
d) the bees won't draw comb above the area influenced by sufficient
quantities of queen pheromone.  In colonies where the queen is not very
attractive to the bees  (low pheromone production) the bees will store
nectar in the brood nest resulting in what is called a plugged brood nest.
These colonies are also reluctant to draw comb above the first super.  That
is why some beekeepers will top super some hives and bottom super others.
The real solution is to improve queen quality.
 
James C. Bach
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