Alexandra Posted March 20, 2013 Share Posted March 20, 2013 My MIL has three hives near her garden, and she got stung yesterday (once). I hate to get rid of bees, but once I heard that if they're stinging people, they're probably Africanized. Does anyone here know bees? Thanks, Alexandra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itsheresomewhere Posted March 20, 2013 Share Posted March 20, 2013 I would see if there any local bee keepers near you. They would be the best ones to advise you and look at the hive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarlaS Posted March 20, 2013 Share Posted March 20, 2013 They may be Africanized, but they are probably just common yellow jackets. The former will usually (not always, but quite often) swarm and give chase. The latter is in no way endangered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flowing Brook Posted March 20, 2013 Share Posted March 20, 2013 I am a beekeeper. Just because she got stung does not mean they are Africanized. I have a hive that I believe is Africanized. Trust me she will be getting stung way more than once if they are. I can not get within two feet of my africanized hive without having the bees start chasing me. With a normal hive I can open my hive in the spring without a smoker and without gloves and never get stung. With my Africanized hive I just go up to it and they start attacking. I opened the hive top three inches last summer and got over thirty stings and had to walk a half mile before they stopped chasing me. If you have any specific questions please feel free to ask. I love beekeeping. Eta: do you have actual beehives or are you talking about three loose swarms of bees near your garden? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Firefly Posted March 20, 2013 Share Posted March 20, 2013 I am a beekeeper and agree that being stung doesn't mean they're Africanized. Some hives are just more territorial than others. I'd suggest contacting local beekeepers, which can usually be located through your local Agricultural Extension or state Agricultural Department. I'm on a list of people in my area to call to come get unwanted bees, whether it's a swarm in a tree, a colony in someone's attic/barn, or just an unwanted hive. Most beekeepers would be thrilled to take an existing hive! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa in Australia Posted March 20, 2013 Share Posted March 20, 2013 there are heaps of reasons why a person might get stung by a bee when there re hives present. We have 6 hives, and we have got stung a few times. Usually it is because of something that the person has done. Like walk through their flight path and the bee has got stuck in your hair (me), or using the mower right in front of the entrance (ds15), trying to catch bees in your hands (ds17 when he was younger), that kind of thing. If the bees are in bee hives than it is possible they might need to be re queened with a more gently queen. If you want to remove them and they are in bee boxes. it is easy peasy. You just wait until night, block up the entrance clamp all the hives together with an emlock and shift them at least a few km's away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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