Bees in hair

[dulley]

I have six hives in my backyard near a woods and have had them for three years now. This year, they seem to be going for my hair and visitors' hair when we are anywhere within 20 feet of the hives. I got one out of my hair and then it flew over and got in my girlfriend's hair. We did not use the same shampoo, so it is not the fragrance. If I am near the bird bath near my house where the bees come to get water, they never go for my hair. This has never happened before this year. Has anyone else experienced this or have any idea why they are going for the hair? Thanks for you advice - Jim

[dmpower]

Mine started going for my hair more often when I stopped coloring it. My hair is now the same color as their hive, and the snow that they like to dive bomb into in the winter. They seem to like white - alot!

[honeybeekeeper]

Im shaved bald so they just slide right off my head!

[Michael Bush]

It is a defensive move short of stinging. The Russians do it more so than the Italians, but all honey bees do it. They are hair pulling.

[Acebird]

It is a defensive move short of stinging.

20 ft from the hive! That sounds like a problem.

[dulley]

Michael, Does 20 feet from the hives, when i am just walking or working in my veggie garden, sound like a long distance for the bees to go into defensive mode? I have never had this happen before. I started out with Italian bees, but they swarmed each of the past two years. Do you think the new queens could have mated with Russian drones and now I have more Russian characteristics than Italian? Thanks, Jim

[DC Bees]

I had a buckfast hive that would do the samething, had to move them out on the farm.Maybe your queen mated with some agressive wild bees.You can try requeening.

[dixiebooks]

Im shaved bald so they just slide right off my head!

There you go, Dulley! You and your girlfriend just need to shave your heads. LOL. -james

[tommyt]

Re Queen them all

JMHO

Tommyt

[sevenmmm]

They are hair pulling.

Don't have to worry about that too much.

[Michael Bush]

>Michael, Does 20 feet from the hives, when i am just walking or working in my veggie garden, sound like a long distance for the bees to go into defensive mode?

Sure, but I've seen Russians who would pull you hair at that distance but not sting you...

[Nabber86]

Re Queen them all

JMHO

Tommyt

Re-Queen 6 hives for maybe $300 (mail order queens)? Because of a couple of bees in your hair? I would wait it out a little and see if the hives get better or worse with time.

[JohnBeeMan]

I would stand off and observe their flight pathes. You may be able to place a small obstruction to force them into a steaper flight pattern so that they are well above your heads.