Post on 15-Jul-2020
transcript
HOT COLONIES OR
KILLER BEES Which is which?
DR. WARRICK
KERR 1922-2018
“FATHER” OF
AFRICANIZED HONEY BEES
Types of Hot Hives
■ Hot temperature-wise ■ Hot genetically-wise ■ Disturbed
Why the hot hive?
The Hot Hive
Genetics
Programmed
Environment/ Management
Beekeeper Ability
Crowded Handling
Gloves, bumping
Flow
Robbing
Weather change
Pests/pesticides
Both
SOMEONE IS LIKELY TO BE STUNG
A JTEW EXAMPLE OF A HOT COLONY – JUST HOW HOT?
Bears
CLEAN-UP AND
ACCEPTANCE
“I’ll be slow and careful. It’s a matter of confidence. I won’t need gloves”
Famous last words……
Your clues…
■ Bees meeting you as you get from the car. ■ Bees clustered on the front of the hive. ■ Hot, dry, without nectar flow ■ Bees are “edgy” and don’t respond well to
smoke. ■ Stinging in uncommon places. ■ Your gut feeling.
Hot colonies require top-notch protective gear
■ In good shape ■ Complete ■ Smoker and fuel ■ Wear it BEFORE it is
needed
Better than nothing, I suppose
Quickly (and slightly off the subject)
Protect your helpers with high quality protective equipment
The Smoker
■ Still not sure why it works.
■ White, cool smoke ■ Copious amounts ■ Consider more than
one ■ Smoke frequently as
needed
Smoke…
■ Before the bees take flight
■ When the bees begin to “look” at you
■ Frequently ■ As needed –
increasingly to control A stinger
You can’t smoke bees in the air
Water and watering
IN SOUTH AND CENTRAL AMERICA, AFRICANZIED HONEY BEES HAVE DRAMATICALLY CHANGED BEEKEEPING MANY WOULD SAY FOR THE “BETTER”
DR. JAMES E. TEW
State Specialist, Beekeeping Alabama Cooperative Extension System