Bee Behavior

Have you ever been stung by a honey bee? Or perhaps a wasp? How can you tell the difference?
Did you know that a honey bee will die if they use their stinger on a person or another mammal?
Did you know that the boy bees (called Drones see photo) do not have a stinger?

We'll take a deeper look into what elicits a bee's defensive behavior and sting response in order to help you understand what to avoid in order to minimize the chances of getting stung by a random bee, or even when checking your own hives.

These tiny creatures have a reputation for causing pain, and rightfully so, they are very protective of their family and homes. Can we blame them for that, no but we can relate and avoid doing anything that makes them feel like we are a threat or danger to their colony.

As a beekeeper, it is important to check on the status of your hives frequently to monitor their health and food stores. Therefore beekeepers need to learn how to co-exist with their hives without causing the defense response. When we behave like a bear, the bees are prone to treat us like a bear.

Learning to move slow, steady and methodically vs herkie jerky fast moments and reacting to a bee flying by your ear or near your face will take some time, but can be easily achieved with a little practice.

Example of a very agitated colony of very aggressive bees.

Bee aware, but not afraid

Bees are not always in "attack mode", but can be provoked if and when threatened.

Much like people, when we are out shopping and happen to notice a ruckus across the store, we may take a look, but normally continue on with our task of shopping for our food and ignore the disturbance.

However, if someone shows up at our front door unannounced at 4:00 am, they should not be surprised if we greet them with our double barrel shot gun.

Honey Bees are no different, in terms of protecting what is theirs and minding their own business when away from their homes.

Bees are naturally docile and will only sting as a defensive reflex, most often when they or their hive are threatened. Many common human behaviors and environmental factors can unintentionally provoke them.

Common triggers that provoke a bee:

A foraging bee away from its hive is unlikely to sting unless it feels trapped or is swatted at. However, the defensive instinct is strong near the nest.

Sudden movements and swatting: Jerky or fast movements are the most common cause of a sting. To a bee, a sudden motion appears as an attack from a predator.

Vibrations and loud noises: Bees are sensitive to vibrations and noise from lawnmowers, trimmers, or construction equipment. These can make a hive feel under attack and trigger a defensive response.

Crushing a bee: This releases a smell called the Alarm Pheromone that smells like bananas and signals an alarm to other bees, attracting them to defend against the perceived threat.

Strong scents: Bees have a keen sense of smell. Strong perfumes, colognes, and even scented soaps and hairsprays can be perceived as an irritant or confuse a bee or even smell like something to eat, so they may investigate the source.

Dark colors and hair: Many of the bees' natural predators, such as bears, are dark and furry. Bees will instinctively target dark, hairy, and leathery areas, such as the head.

Proximity to a hive: The closer you get to a colony, the higher the risk of disturbing it. Beekeepers use smoke to mask alarm pheromones and prevent the bees from becoming alarmed during hive inspections.

Threats to the colony: A hive may become more defensive if it is under stress from predators, pests, or a lack of resources.

The bottom line is, we live in Africanized Bee territory, so we need to be informed and help educate others to avoid getting bees aggerated, especially when we are not suited up and prepared for the occasion.

Keep calm and save the bees

If a bee is near you, your best strategy is to remain calm and still.

The bee will die if she stings you, so it is not in her best interest to sting when she is not defending her home and colony. Her sting has barbs so when it penetrates a fleshly surface, it sticks and as the bee flies away, her internal parts are pulled away, which leads to a slow death.

So by keeping your cool, you can avoid a painful sting and the bee losing her life.

How to coexist peacefully with bees

Move away slowly: If a bee keeps buzzing near you, walk away slowly and calmly instead of swatting at it.

Wear light-colored clothing: Choose light-colored, smooth fabrics, as these are less likely to resemble a bee's natural predators.

Avoid scents: When outdoors in an area with bees, avoid wearing strong fragrances. Especially scents like Lemon Grass, a known bee attractant.

Stay out of the "flight path": If you see bees flying in and out of a particular area, stay at least 5 to 6 feet away from that path. (like the runway at the airport)

Be aware of your surroundings: When spending time outdoors, especially barefoot, be mindful of where you sit or step to avoid accidentally crushing a foraging bee.

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