Is there a accepted standardized scale from 1-10 regarding gentleness? How do you measure gentleness?
Something like....
1 Can be worked in non-white T-Shirt and shorts without veil. During normal frame manipulation for at least 30 minutes no head butting. Require little to no smoke to stay calm.
2 Can be worked in white T-shirt and shorts, occasional head butting requires veil. Becomes more defensive within first 15 minutes. Single bees will only sting when many bees are crushed during handling. Smoke recommended to keep bees calm.
3 Requires veil. Can be worked in white T-shirt and white pants, smoke required to distract bees when opening telescoping cover. Single bees may sting when there is a sudden movement or noise while handling frames
4. Requires pollinator outfit on most days. Multiple bees are headbutting. 0 - 1 unprovoked stinging incident per year.
5. Requires smoke to open inner cover without defensive action. Gloves recommended when removing frames. Not suitable for suburban or urban beekeeping in close proximity to neighbors.
6. Defensively agressive when removing frames. Several guard bees attack readily. Gloves required. One or more unprovoked stinging incidents per year
7. Full body protection required when opening hive and removing frames. Almost immediate multiple head butting when standing within 5ft of the hive. May sting at slightest provocation within 5ft of hive. Requires smoke to remove telescoping cover without immediate defensive behavior. Multiple stinging incidents per year.
8. Full body protection required when opening inner cover of hive. May sting unprovoked within 5ft of the hive.
When provoked single bees may pursue for over 30 feet
9. Full body protection required when opening tescoping cover. May sting unprovoked within 10ft of hive. When provoked may pursue in mass for over 30 feet
10. Full body protection required when approaching hive. May sting unprovoked within 30ft of hive. Working bees requires no unprotected bystanders or animals. When provoked may pursue in mass for over 100 feet
Something like....
1 Can be worked in non-white T-Shirt and shorts without veil. During normal frame manipulation for at least 30 minutes no head butting. Require little to no smoke to stay calm.
2 Can be worked in white T-shirt and shorts, occasional head butting requires veil. Becomes more defensive within first 15 minutes. Single bees will only sting when many bees are crushed during handling. Smoke recommended to keep bees calm.
3 Requires veil. Can be worked in white T-shirt and white pants, smoke required to distract bees when opening telescoping cover. Single bees may sting when there is a sudden movement or noise while handling frames
4. Requires pollinator outfit on most days. Multiple bees are headbutting. 0 - 1 unprovoked stinging incident per year.
5. Requires smoke to open inner cover without defensive action. Gloves recommended when removing frames. Not suitable for suburban or urban beekeeping in close proximity to neighbors.
6. Defensively agressive when removing frames. Several guard bees attack readily. Gloves required. One or more unprovoked stinging incidents per year
7. Full body protection required when opening hive and removing frames. Almost immediate multiple head butting when standing within 5ft of the hive. May sting at slightest provocation within 5ft of hive. Requires smoke to remove telescoping cover without immediate defensive behavior. Multiple stinging incidents per year.
8. Full body protection required when opening inner cover of hive. May sting unprovoked within 5ft of the hive.
When provoked single bees may pursue for over 30 feet
9. Full body protection required when opening tescoping cover. May sting unprovoked within 10ft of hive. When provoked may pursue in mass for over 30 feet
10. Full body protection required when approaching hive. May sting unprovoked within 30ft of hive. Working bees requires no unprotected bystanders or animals. When provoked may pursue in mass for over 100 feet