Oh my gosh. I'm concerned for you, but I'm also giggling at the same time. Sorry. I wish you well and for a speedy recovery. I think Steve Martin should play you if your stories ever end up becoming a movie. Best of luck, Chef!
Bees (like horses) respond to the smell of fear in the air. If you ride a horse with trepidation in your heart it will very likely do its best to unseat while it is nervously looking around for whatever it is that it smells you are afraid of. I wonder if this is what is going on with your bees. Maybe taking a valium to calm you (or drinking a bucket of valerian tea) in advance of the next visit might help (not trying to be facetious!). Good luck.
Here there are fat slow bees getting comprehensively drunk on bletted fruits still hanging on some of the trees. Every once in a while when I’m outside wearing a particular bright flowered dress, one will light on my two-dimensional fabric poppies and lurch around confused for a minute, then fly away muttering about false advertising.
Never open your hives if colder then 12c..your mite treatments should be completed before you insulate your hives for Winter . I suspect your girls are upset with all the disturbances going in and out of hives too much . Less is more .
We’re still at 17 to 18 degrees here, and our mentor sort of abandoned us late summer so I have only managed the varroa strips now. We are very much hands off so apart from what’s necessary I leave them alone. It’s good to find them this way though, as at least I can see all temperaments. I hope they calm down again.
I dropped in on an extension presentation on bee keeping (I love honey… what can I say?) and the keeper told us that bees can smell you and determine if you are anxious in any way and those pheromones put them in attack mode. I knew then and there I could never keep bees. If one stung me I couldn’t pull off staying calm to the core. I thanked her because I learned they are in tune on such a level… hope this helps you through their rage somehow? Stay healthy and safe…
Yes they do sense your mood it is said, and they hate carbon dioxide, so they read your breath. Stings are more inconvenient than anything, but the power of them as a collective can be quite unnerving, especially when they’re intent on attack.
Gulp! Good luck for spring, new queens? I've also heard using lavender in the smoker can help calm them, but that could be a load of nonsense. Fortunately, my hive is quite docile. Only had one sting! Not sure I fancy them turning feral! Hope they fair well over winter
Thank you. I’ve not heard of the lavender, though might make sense… to be fair I think it could be multiple factors that have sent them off on a tangent. I’ll see how winter progresses and perhaps will be surprised in spring.
Glad to have discovered your Substack Will. Great writing! 👏
Any chance your hive has been "Africanized"? Do the bees/queen seem bigger to you? Do you think climate (warmer winters) is a factor? Only possible to guess about causes of behavioral changes of course.
Requeen early next spring. I had that same colony last year. They were very productive, but fierce warriors. Once the smell of danger was in the air, I was covered in kamikaze bees. Hard to do any work! Their populations will be small come spring, you’ll be fine requeening then. Meanwhile, be sure to TX for mites now so you have some left come spring. Good luck!
Do you know what? I reckon those bees know you are frightened of them. Thankfully I have never had a bee sting or a beehive for that matter, but when it is ‘bee season’ in our garden they don’t seem to care that I am there, picking lavender or the thyme, which is in full flower at present. Perhaps I am just one of the lucky ones, or is it that I am not breaking into their home? I do feel for you though, I understand the bee sting can be extremely painful 🤗
I can so relate to some of this - the whole "I really don't want to do this, but I have to". Temperament does seem to vary a bit according to the weather, but it's a long way from being an exact science. And it's a bit Russian roulette too. Gloves - these are what I use, over my suit: https://burnettbeekeepingsupplies.com.au/shop/clothing/ventilated-leather-gloves/
If I’m honest I prefer working with leather gloves at the moment, despite what other beekeepers tell me. Pulling out ten stings from the fingers on the glove tells me it’s best at the moment.
I like the look of the ones in the link. I’m also going to buy an ‘Old Castle’ suit next week I think in preparation for spring time. I can’t be working in a thin soft suit with this level of aggression/ defensiveness.
Their suits look quite similar to the Oz armour one that I use. The ventilation is a game changer, at least in our climate. Again, their gloves are very similar to mine.
Damn. I am impressed with your fortitude. After reading your earlier post about the second hive getting all aggro, I'll admit by that point I'd say, "No farm is totally self-sufficient. I'm turning over the bees to someone else and I'll pay for my honey."
I realize this is about beekeeping and may not be your area of knowledge, but I’ve a question about the lemon trees you mentioned. I’m curious to learn that you can grow them in England. What can you tell me about them? I’m in the states —zone 7–and have 5 seedlings I’ve grown to 6” tall and now don’t know what to do with them.
Do you get snow where you live, I’ve checked the area, but am not sure. William will probably answer, but a lot of citrus is grown in pots in the UK then they move it to a warmer sheltered spot in the winter. Lucky us here in Australia, can grow them anywhere.
Oh my gosh. I'm concerned for you, but I'm also giggling at the same time. Sorry. I wish you well and for a speedy recovery. I think Steve Martin should play you if your stories ever end up becoming a movie. Best of luck, Chef!
I do have to laugh at myself at this point.
Bees (like horses) respond to the smell of fear in the air. If you ride a horse with trepidation in your heart it will very likely do its best to unseat while it is nervously looking around for whatever it is that it smells you are afraid of. I wonder if this is what is going on with your bees. Maybe taking a valium to calm you (or drinking a bucket of valerian tea) in advance of the next visit might help (not trying to be facetious!). Good luck.
Yes they may sense the anxiety I agree,
I hope we both get over it.
Ow, I was flinching while reading this. I hope you have better luck next Spring. :)
I do hope so. Last year was so different. I suspect they are just upset.
I get grumpy in this weather too. 😄
Bloody hell eh. Good luck in spring
I can't help but imagine the bees have 6 months to plot their revenge...
I can’t wait …
Honestly …
Here there are fat slow bees getting comprehensively drunk on bletted fruits still hanging on some of the trees. Every once in a while when I’m outside wearing a particular bright flowered dress, one will light on my two-dimensional fabric poppies and lurch around confused for a minute, then fly away muttering about false advertising.
Ah, yes the rotted fruit, of which there is plenty. They are deep into the ivy pollen but they may be drunk on cider which would explain everything.
You know how some people get when they’ve been at the pub too long.
Indeed…
Being a bee keeper sounds very complicated. You also sound very brave, despite you writing that you're not. I hope the honey was worth it.
Yes, it is all worth if I’m honest.
Never open your hives if colder then 12c..your mite treatments should be completed before you insulate your hives for Winter . I suspect your girls are upset with all the disturbances going in and out of hives too much . Less is more .
We’re still at 17 to 18 degrees here, and our mentor sort of abandoned us late summer so I have only managed the varroa strips now. We are very much hands off so apart from what’s necessary I leave them alone. It’s good to find them this way though, as at least I can see all temperaments. I hope they calm down again.
I dropped in on an extension presentation on bee keeping (I love honey… what can I say?) and the keeper told us that bees can smell you and determine if you are anxious in any way and those pheromones put them in attack mode. I knew then and there I could never keep bees. If one stung me I couldn’t pull off staying calm to the core. I thanked her because I learned they are in tune on such a level… hope this helps you through their rage somehow? Stay healthy and safe…
Yes they do sense your mood it is said, and they hate carbon dioxide, so they read your breath. Stings are more inconvenient than anything, but the power of them as a collective can be quite unnerving, especially when they’re intent on attack.
Bloody hell! I loved this post but BLOODY HELL!
Very glad you enjoyed. Thank you.
Gulp! Good luck for spring, new queens? I've also heard using lavender in the smoker can help calm them, but that could be a load of nonsense. Fortunately, my hive is quite docile. Only had one sting! Not sure I fancy them turning feral! Hope they fair well over winter
Thank you. I’ve not heard of the lavender, though might make sense… to be fair I think it could be multiple factors that have sent them off on a tangent. I’ll see how winter progresses and perhaps will be surprised in spring.
Glad to have discovered your Substack Will. Great writing! 👏
Any chance your hive has been "Africanized"? Do the bees/queen seem bigger to you? Do you think climate (warmer winters) is a factor? Only possible to guess about causes of behavioral changes of course.
Trying to analyse why they’re so different has thrown up many theories. Today they were calm when I walked by, so I’ll wait for winter to pass.
Requeen early next spring. I had that same colony last year. They were very productive, but fierce warriors. Once the smell of danger was in the air, I was covered in kamikaze bees. Hard to do any work! Their populations will be small come spring, you’ll be fine requeening then. Meanwhile, be sure to TX for mites now so you have some left come spring. Good luck!
Yes this is likely what needs to happen, though I will give them a chance. Calm Buckfast queens if I need to I think.
My mean bees were from a Buckfast queen!!
Oh…
Do you know what? I reckon those bees know you are frightened of them. Thankfully I have never had a bee sting or a beehive for that matter, but when it is ‘bee season’ in our garden they don’t seem to care that I am there, picking lavender or the thyme, which is in full flower at present. Perhaps I am just one of the lucky ones, or is it that I am not breaking into their home? I do feel for you though, I understand the bee sting can be extremely painful 🤗
I do agree. I’m sure they pick up the anxiety. Time will tell.
I can so relate to some of this - the whole "I really don't want to do this, but I have to". Temperament does seem to vary a bit according to the weather, but it's a long way from being an exact science. And it's a bit Russian roulette too. Gloves - these are what I use, over my suit: https://burnettbeekeepingsupplies.com.au/shop/clothing/ventilated-leather-gloves/
If I’m honest I prefer working with leather gloves at the moment, despite what other beekeepers tell me. Pulling out ten stings from the fingers on the glove tells me it’s best at the moment.
I like the look of the ones in the link. I’m also going to buy an ‘Old Castle’ suit next week I think in preparation for spring time. I can’t be working in a thin soft suit with this level of aggression/ defensiveness.
Their suits look quite similar to the Oz armour one that I use. The ventilation is a game changer, at least in our climate. Again, their gloves are very similar to mine.
Pricey but decent I think.
Damn. I am impressed with your fortitude. After reading your earlier post about the second hive getting all aggro, I'll admit by that point I'd say, "No farm is totally self-sufficient. I'm turning over the bees to someone else and I'll pay for my honey."
I realize this is about beekeeping and may not be your area of knowledge, but I’ve a question about the lemon trees you mentioned. I’m curious to learn that you can grow them in England. What can you tell me about them? I’m in the states —zone 7–and have 5 seedlings I’ve grown to 6” tall and now don’t know what to do with them.
Do you get snow where you live, I’ve checked the area, but am not sure. William will probably answer, but a lot of citrus is grown in pots in the UK then they move it to a warmer sheltered spot in the winter. Lucky us here in Australia, can grow them anywhere.
We leave ours out all year, but heavily wrapped for the coldest months. Only a little damage on some tips.
Thanks Will. I’ll keep them in pots and bring them in this winter and see how it goes!
Living on the coast, we occasionally get snow.
When life gives you lemons , make Lemonade ! Or add them to any 🍊 and make marmalade !