Got stung up this morning

[swampcat]

Well friends needed help up at the church so I ran up there and helped unload trucks that delivered pallets of food for the churches care closet mission.. all that showed up were a couple of 80 year olds and me.. so I got pretty sweaty working up there, my mentor bought me back home and since he is helping me to extract tomorrow I asked him to check his hive to see how much capped honey was in it too.. So we might extract both hives..
Just a quick look with a veil and no smoke, man as soon as we opened my hive I got swarmed.. at least 5 hit me before I ran back to the house to get the smoker.. It went a lot better with the smoker, and I learned not to open a hive with shirt full of sweat...

What was curious to me was his hive had no honey to extract in it.. while mine sits next to his, had a full honey super with capped honey. June the 16th I pulled a split on my hive and took a brood box and a super with it.
I guess some queens produce better workers than others..

[pokeyjeeper]

Man that sucks hope your ok mine were a little ornery Last weekend when I was in there I thought it was the weather but I had been working hard and was sweaty also now you got me thinking ok beeks help the newbees out

[bk]

I'll toss in my two cents.  From experience I haven't found them any more likely to sting when I have been sweating unless I really stunk.  I recall working the hives in 90 degree humid Wisconsin weather and sweating so much my bee suit was soaking wet.

A few suggestions...
- Be calm and gentle. No sudden movements.  Handle your hive tool and the frames with care.
- Pick a good day to work your bees. A good day is warm, very sunny, high pressure or barometric on the rise, and not real windy.
- Pick a good time. If possible between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. as the foragers are out, the hive is smaller in numbers.  And bees are most calm during a nectar flow - use that to your advantage if you can.
- Use care with scents.  Perfume, hairspray, heavy soaps, strong smells, and on the flip side, bad body odor, can all draw stings.  I had one hive a couple years ago that didn't like my deodorant brand - yup, they won and I changed brands.
- Never wear dark clothing! Think black bears.
- Do not swat at a bee that is buzzing around your head.  She will become much more aggressive if you swat at her and she will pursue you if you run.  If she does drive you away, move into the woods or under a tree.  I have a pine tree wind break that I'll admit to seeking out for cover.  Wait awhile, calm down, and get back to working the bees.
- Avoid sweating on or breathing heavily onto the bees. They don't like sweat on them, just like most folks don't like us sweating on them.  A gentle blow can be used to move bees so you can better see eggs or brood or...  And they move easily with just a light touch of a finger.
- Smoke the hive, but be gentle and don't over smoke them. A little smoke goes a long way. They eat honey under the influence of smoke and a full bee is a happy bee.  
- Wear a veil. Don't risk being stung in the face or eye.  Gloves are great while you build confidence but shoot for working without them - it will make you a better and more gentle beek.  I'm not there 100% of the time yet, but if the bees are in a good mood, glove off until I get stung. 

[pokeyjeeper]

Good information bk thanks for sharing I've been using those blue nitro gloves I think they are the 7 mil ones no stings yet but I'm sure that day will come

[bk]

Jul 13, 2017 6:52:53 GMT -5 pokeyjeeper said:

Good information bk thanks for sharing I've been using those blue nitro gloves I think they are the 7 mil ones no stings yet but I'm sure that day will come

Your time is coming.   (Your ladies will initiate you - they are just lulling you into a false sense of security.)

[pokeyjeeper]

Lol no they are good girls they came to me homeless and I give them free room and board