From: "deelusbybeekeeper" <deelusbybeekeeper@excelonline.com>
Date: Sat, 7 Jul 2001 07:09:24 -0700
To: <BiologicalBeekeeping@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: Re: Punic bees & querks!

Clay responding to Roberts post with historical info:

> Excellent info. Will put this one in my save file. Funny that you mention
> biting. My bees do this quite often. How about others, do your bees bite?

Reply:

Many natural ferals do.

They also like to pull hair on your arms these types and hold on while not
stinging. Some also like to try to provoke you, to see if you are dangerous
somehow and if you ignore them they do nothing, but it you swat back then
they will sting, like some sort of test they are doing on us!

That's why in old days beekeepers were told to work slowly and ignore bees
actions, so they would stay working as beekeepers worked hives.When we were
young (not that I consider me old now), we were also told to not get in
front of hives to block flight paths, especially water. Also, not to rap or
heavily with a thud drop something on a hive top, or fast crack frames
apart, as the noise/vibration would also get bees out fast to see what was
happening, like an animal tearing them apart (not that we do this taking
honey). You just learn to do it slow. Also, animal hair bristle brushes work
better than plastic for some reason for brushing bees and keeping them
quieter. They seem to know the difference on their bodies.

Gee, thinking of this maybe beekeepers should talk about querks in working
bees and handling.

Dee