The governor of Michigan just declared a State of Emergency for our state due to record-breaking low temperatures. As I write this post (January 2019), it’s currently -6 degrees F with a wind chill of -30. So worrying if our hive is overheated is really not a concern right now…quite the opposite. However, coming this spring, I will be interested in the personality of our hive or how “hot” it is.
Once upon a time, a strain of honeybees from the continent of Africa was known to swarm in dangerous numbers and would kill humans and livestock. These bees were referred to as “Killer Bees”. These bees still exist in Africa. A descendant of these bees also lives in southern parts of the United States. The bees were accidentally released into the wild in the 1950s. (For more information on this visit my post “Killer Bees” Explained) These escaped bees have since mingled with domesticated strains and lost some of that swarming/attack instinct.
Beekeepers realized that the killer strains had some benefits such as increased honey production and higher resistance to mites. Supporters of the killer bee benefits disliked the connotation that the name suggested, so the bees are also referred to as Africanized bees.
It seems now that even this title is starting to become taboo as the movement to protect and support bees becomes more widely promoted and it is preferred that we refer to our hives with a level of heat. How “hot” your hive is really asking how “sassy” is your hive?
Is Your Hive Hot?
It’s important for new beekeepers to understand the difference between a hot hive and normal bee behavior. Even docile, domesticated bees will protect their home to an extent, especially if you don’t use protective measures like a smoker when opening the hive.
Your bee genetics are not unchanging. Each time your queen leaves the hive to mate with wild drones she is introducing new genetics to the colony. Subsequent offspring will carry on the genetic traits of the new drone.
It is believed that most of the wild bee population now carries a percentage of the Africanized genes due to widespread breeding.
So in other words, you don’t really know what attitude your hive will have in the future.
If you’re a new beekeeper, or someone who keeps bees in a more urban setting, your tolerance for bee “heat” might be less than someone who’s been beekeeping for years or who lives in a more rural area. Someone who is comfortable around bees might happily take on a hotter hive if it means higher resistance to mites and increased honey production. You might also have children who are interested in beekeeping. In this case, you want a friendly hive.
But how do you determine aggressive behavior as opposed to regular bee instinct?
| Normal Bee Behavior | Aggressive Bee Behavior |
| Ignoring people close by the hive, or calmly flying over to inspect.
Showing slight agitation if you are in the pathway of the entrance. This might be shown by bumping or a speedy buzzing flight.
Agitation with small engines or loud vibration near the hive
Flying slowly around or staying put when the hive is opened and a smoker is used correctly
Stinging or aggression when the hive is opened without a smoker
After the hive is closed up, not following you or following for a few yards then giving up.
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Showing defensiveness at further distances from the hive some say 50 feet or more.
Sending guard bees at close proximity to the hive
Stinging just for approaching
Fast flying, buzzing and quick circular flights when the hive is opened
Circulating your head, clustering at the face
Trying to sting through your bee veil
Following for up to a mile away from the hive
Staying agitated for days after a hive inspection
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If you’re unhappy with the aggression level that your hive is displaying there is a way to change the genetics by re-queening your hive. For information on requeening a hive, see 10 Steps to Requeening a Hive.
7 Comments
Africa is a continent, not a country.
Amanda says:
February 14, 2019 at 10:49 pm
Africa is a continent, not a country.
Yep! And the author agrees!
“Once upon a time, a strain of honey bees from the continent of Africa was known to swarm in dangerous numbers.”
Good article in layman’s terms.
Why does this article keep coming up. First the media makes africanized bees to bee the boon of everything now we have a beekeeper that is doing the same thing. Trying to coin terms but lives in Michigan, where as of yet these bees haven’t even gone that far or close to it for that matter. I live in a state at risk for africanized bees and have yet to see any (albeit thankfully) and they do so much in this state to prevent it that it is almost ridiculous to be a bee keeper. It is counter productive to bee keeping to keep bringing up africanized bees as if they are an epidemic. This is why normal bees get killed off, because people assume the worst about bees due to this hype about africanized bees. Trust me the differences are huge. When you run across an actual africanized bee hive you WILL know it and you better run far and fast! They sting first and a lot and they don’t ask questions. Otherwise you’ve just got a pissed off hive.
Great article
Am new beekeeper from Ghana, in my cashew farm. I have about twenty hives about 10 occupied by bees about two months ago.
Am looking for foreign partner or an investor
If possible.
“Each time your queen leaves the hive to mate with wild drones she is introducing new genetics to the colony. Subsequent offspring will carry on the genetic traits of the new drone.”
The article reads like the queen goes out and mates whenever she wants.
For hot hives I have found that using some smooth sumac seeds in the smoker is very effective in having a calming affect on the bee’s.