Yesterday, I had my first angry bee encounter during a hive inspection. I came off with 4 stings through my gardening gloves which I’d been using because it’s been easier to lift the frames than the bee gloves.
Inspecting the first 3 frames went fine and then the bees got agro, hitting the chest area of my suit and face guard. I used plenty of smoke which calmed/distracted them for a couple of minutes.
I got to frame 4 which was heavily propolised and made it hard to lift which the bees didn’t respond well to. In between me calming them, walking away and coming back, trying again, we had this dance going on for a few minutes
During the attempt to inspect frame 5, I received the 4 stings and decided to close up. I found it difficult to line up the QX and super with it being my 1st time, fuddled around, squashed few bees in the process, while trying to stay calm.
I’ve been reviewing the exercise today. The colony is strong and thriving, took the bur comb off the QX, there’s full and capped honey on frames 1 and 2, plenty of capped and uncapped brood on 3 and 4. Far less chalkbrood on the pest tray, though I spotted some CB’d cells on frame 4.
Didn’t see the queen, or any drone cells. I noticed on frame 4 that the bees were moving fast and in places, crawling on top of each other, like they were about to drip off. Wondered what this was all about?
Next time, I will remember to start inspect from frame 8 backwards.
It was a beautiful warm late afternoon, a breeze but nothing dramatic. Although we did have a strong wind come through in the evening, I wonder if the bees already knew.
Putting this all down to experience and trusting they won’t be as cranky next time and I’ll move slower and with more dexterity.
What’s the best amount of time to leave them before I try the next inspection?
Are there any other considerations and things I could do to make the experience better next time?
Thanks for reading.