aggressive packages

**DLMKA** · 05-02-2012, 07:39 AM

I got a package last weekend and helped another beek install her 3 packages. I wasn't wearing gloves and took a sting to the finger and one on the wrist. I blamed the dreary, cool, overcast weather. Last night went to refill feeders and was greeted by the landowner and she said they were just down there and the little girl got stung after a bee got tangled up in her hair. I went down and walked behind the hives but in the flight path to the nearby timber and just walking in the flight path earned me some headbutting, got closer and got stung on the hand. I've read some other forums and talked to the package supplier this morning and they said they've had other calls about aggressive behavior from packages, the beek I helped had a couple packages that were grumpy too. The syrup can was empty or nearly empty on all packages we installed. Weather has been cool. Sunday when I installed them it was starting to get misty and rainy but I knew the syrup can was empty so I felt had to do it then. It rained from installation to Monday morning (0.3" temps mid-50s for highs). Monday evening we released the queen, my fiancee wore my only jacket/veil and they were perfectly agreeable then. Rained pretty steady from Tuesday morning until late afternoon when it cleared up, sun came out and and temps went up to mid-70s. Lots of activity but aggressive then. I'm using boardman feeders and they've taken ~ 1 pint of syrup since Sunday.

Here's my question. Will this hive cool back down once they get a few nice days to forage or warm weather so they can break cluster and get down to the feeder or will i have to wait ~30 days for the new bees from the queen in this package?

Is my assumption about the weather and being able to feed the likely cause of the grumpyness?

I've seen quite a few posts here and elsewhere where bees are aggressive this year.

**c10250** · 05-02-2012, 07:53 AM

Every bee you have in your hive right now is NOT related to your queen. Over the month, your package bees will slowly die while your queen's offspring take over. Give it time. These bees will be gone soon, and your hive will be completely different, genetically.

If it's still mean after that, then you have issues.

**DLMKA** · 05-02-2012, 08:13 AM

I'm worried about losing my bee yard. I have another place to put them if need be which is probably better but I would like to have two reliable locations close to my house where I can move splits or whatever.

**throrope** · 05-02-2012, 08:28 AM

IMHO, the yard is first priority. I suggest moving the bees and discussing the issue with the owner. Plan to return with hives when you are more confident with their behavior.

**DLMKA** · 05-02-2012, 08:43 AM

Originally Posted by throrope

IMHO, the yard is first priority. I suggest moving the bees and discussing the issue with the owner. Plan to return with hives when you are more confident with their behavior.

I just need to work out the details with the other guy. He's a little over a mile from my house and has several acres of pumpkins, tomatoes, squash, etc and wanted to PAY ME to keep hives there. There is very little row crop acreage in that area as well and lots of timber/open ground. The closest occupied houses about 100 yards away and one unoccupied house on the other side of a tree row about 100 yds in the other direction. I'll probably set up and level a pallet there in the next day or two.

**StevenG** · 05-02-2012, 09:51 AM

The Boardman feeder can also cause robbing. Weather was against you, and package bees can be cranky at first. Hopefully this explanation helps with the other folks. I wouldn't worry yet. Give them 3 weeks, see how it goes. Also, getting in their flight path isn't a good idea. And if you ever use a weed eater around them, better be armored up! Don't ask me how I know....

Regards,
Steven

**martinvermillion64** · 05-02-2012, 11:49 AM

I must be lucky or something. The package I just installed was extremely calm. This was about three weeks ago. Been in the hive twice since one time to check for queen release and a second to check for brood all is good.They have taken about three gallons of syrup from a top feeder. On a second survivor hive have not had to feed and they are calm also. I have but do not recommend worked these hives with no protection at all this year,sure that will change as the season goes on. Another package will arrive around the 12th of May will let you know how this works out. They should calm down soon but it takes a good bit for the queen to replace all the bees remain patient.I would invest in a good top feeder they are just so much better for you and your bees.

**magista** · 05-02-2012, 12:02 PM

I installed 30 packages this year. They were cranky for the first 2 weeks and have since mellowed out now that they have routine going. I think giving them space for a bit to settle in is always good.

As mentioned you want to stay out of the flight path.

**mrobinson** · 05-02-2012, 01:07 PM

Obviously, you can never tell. My last two installs were peaceful; I've also in my time unloaded "a basket full of bi

ches." I do subscribe to the notion that a good thing to do is to paint (not spray) the package several times with sugar-water until they seem to lose interest in it, on the notion that "a hungry bee is a PO'd bee." (I can relate to that ...) But, otherwise, well, "they're bees ... you just never know." A package is a completely un-natural collection of insects, all but one of which will be dead in a month and a half anyway.

The basic rules, though, are: stay out of the flight paths, and don't cast a shadow on the entrance of the hive! (I never saw my big brother run so fast!)

If a bee decides that you look and act like a marauding bear, you might get treated like one. Or... you just might have had a bit of bad-luck. It pays not to "anthromorphize" a colony of insects too much.

**DLMKA** · 05-02-2012, 01:55 PM

My hives are where the red dot is in the photo. She moved horses in there since we first talked about where to put hives. I erected a fence around the hives to keep the hay-burners out but stupidly put the entrance on the south side. The bees are going from the hives to the timber to the SW so I walk through the flight path. No matter what I do I need to put something on the fence to raise the flight path higher and I'll move the entrance of the fence to the north side.

**geebob** · 05-02-2012, 03:10 PM

I guess I should count my blessings then. I've never had a bad experience with a package being temperamental. Usually they're so calm that I pick up bad habits from working with them. That includes a few installations in the rain, several on cold days, and one memorable one in a thunderstorm (for a friend who wanted a garden hive).

No matter what I do I need to put something on the fence to raise the flight path higher and I'll move the entrance of the fence to the north side.

You could crawl in guerrilla-style.

**DLMKA** · 05-02-2012, 03:44 PM

Originally Posted by geebob

I guess I should count my blessings then. I've never had a bad experience with a package being temperamental. Usually they're so calm that I pick up bad habits from working with them. That includes a few installations in the rain, several on cold days, and one memorable one in a thunderstorm (for a friend who wanted a garden hive).

You could crawl in guerrilla-style.

I installed them when it was cold AND starting to rain. I knew the syrup can was empty so I felt like I didn't have much choice in the matter. The weather wasn't forecast to get better for 2-3 days.

**DLMKA** · 05-03-2012, 07:37 PM

Still pretty mean, went to check feeder tonight and they came after me 8-10' away. Thinking i might abandon feeding and just let them forage what they need. Of course, feeding might get more comb quicker and more queen daughters to replace the package bees.