Finding a Hot Hive

2909 Views 15 Replies 11 Participants Last post by Batman, Mar 23, 2010

Ruben

Discussion Starter · Mar 21, 2010

I have about eight hives in from of my parking lot and one or more of them has developed a bad habit of nailing me for no darn good reason. I tried cleaning the parking lot today and the hives face away from the lot but I got nailed as soo as I was with in 10 ft of them and everytime I went back after that they tried to nail me again. I see no signs of a skunk or anything and nobody can mess with them. Looking back it started last fall, and seems to be getting worse.

My question- Does anyone know how I can find out which one it is without moving them one at a time? When I smoke them and go into them none seems worse than another.

1 - 16 of 16 Posts

nc checkers

· #2 · Mar 21, 2010

Just a thought that may work. Try tapping lightly on the back of the hive without smoking and see which one sends out the most guard bees

c10250

· #3 · Mar 21, 2010 (Edited)

Get a golf ball, stand about 10 yards away, and throw it at each hive. You'll find out which one is hot . . . . fast. Oh, and by the way, for REAL hot hives, I'd increase the distance.

cwinfield

· #4 · Mar 22, 2010

Ruben,
i am sorry for being off topic, but i am near fairfield. its nice to see someone who is nearby. by the wa, i thought that the golf ball idea was GREAT

Ruben

Discussion Starter · #5 · Mar 22, 2010

Love the golf ball idea! Might have to practice my chip shot

cwinfield - I see your profile says you are 13 years old, good to see young beeks. If you are interested you can join the Shenondoah Valley Beekeepers Assocciation, we meet in Staunton on the 3rd Thurday of every month and usually have a guest speaker to give a presentation on different aspects of beekeeping.

Beeslave

· #6 · Mar 22, 2010

Tapping on the hive while suited up would work but just because they send out more bees won't mean they are the most aggresive. I would shake a patch of dark cloth in front of the hive tied to a string attached to a stick after the hive is tapped. Which ever hive attacks the cloth the most would probally be the hot hive. I haven't done this but I seen it on tv when they were showing africinized hives and how they would attack.

brac

· #7 · Mar 22, 2010

I saw the same thing, I believe there was an attack phermone on the cloth.

Budster

· #8 · Mar 22, 2010

c10250 said:
Get a golf ball, stand about 10 yards away, and throw it at each hive. You'll find out which one is hot . . . . fast. Oh, and by the way, for REAL hot hives, I'd increase the distance.

Probably the most scientific approach listed yet!

Actually, I'd probably just suit up like the Michelin Man and "mess around" at the entrance of the hives and see what hive is uncomfortable with the commotion. With such archaic methods suggested thus far, I'm sure the nasty hive could be discovered...

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Budster

· #9 · Mar 22, 2010

Ruben said:
Love the golf ball idea! Might have to practice my chip shot

I guess I wouldn't be able to complete this in one day unless my hives are the size of a barn!!!

Beeslave

· #10 · Mar 22, 2010

brac said:
I believe there was an attack phermone on the cloth.

Possible but I think as the bees sting it they will produce there own pheremone to attract the others to attack it.

c10250

· #11 · Mar 22, 2010

cwinfield said:
Ruben,
by the wa, i thought that the golf ball idea was GREAT

Give props to Troy. From one of his posts last year.

"Also the part about not putting them in a line is true too. If you put them all together in a line and one is Africanized it is hard to tell which one it is. I came up with a method. Golf balls. I sneak up on them from far away with my suit on. Try it on a nice sunny afternoon when a lot of bees are flying anyway. Start throwing golf balls at the hive. When you hit the Africanized one, the response will be quite obvious. A lot more bees respond to the thunk of the golf ball against the brood box."

DRUR

· #12 · Mar 22, 2010

Not all defensive colonies [or the aggressive ones] are Africanized. We had nasty bees before the AHB problem. There are other characteristice of Ahb that can be observed to make this determination. If you just don't want them because they are to mean is one thing, if your concern is AHB, that is another, and they should be requeened; however, no sufficient information has been provided to show that you have overly defensive [or aggressive] bees. If you can't determine that by working them, I would suggest something else is at play.

Kindest Regards
Danny

Ruben

Discussion Starter · #13 · Mar 23, 2010

We don't have African Honeybees in Virginia, then again if you see some guy on the news who was killed by bees for throwing golf balls at them then maybe we do

Michael Bush

· #14 · Mar 23, 2010

Open the top and blow across the bees... they will pour out of the hot hive.

Monie

· #15 · Mar 23, 2010

The next best thing to botox! HA!!!

Batman

· #16 · Mar 23, 2010

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/ARR225-7.html

And here's a video for ya of it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQdcTEiaVJA&feature=related

1 - 16 of 16 Posts

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