What makes honey bees aggressive?
You’ve managed your honey bee colonies all spring and summer with no problem. Now and then an aggressive guard warned you off, but in general the bees were docile.
All of a sudden, however, the bees are angry. They fly at you. They form a dark cloud above their hive. They bury themselves in your pet’s fur. What gives?
Many aspects of a honey bee colony are cyclic in nature, and aggression is no exception. Honey bees have the ability to be aggressive at any time, but certain things set them off. In the late summer and early fall, more of these conditions exist.
Here are some of the factors that make for aggressive honey bees:
- Queenlessness is frequently a cause of feisty bees. The bad behavior usually stops as soon as the colony or the beekeeper replaces the queen.
- A shortage of nectar-producing flowers is called a nectar dearth. The bees can’t find nectar so they often try to steal it from other hives. This begins an aggressive behavior known as robbing.
- Not only are robbing bees aggressive, but the bees being robbed become aggressive defenders of their stores. This often results in a cloud of bees around a hive, especially in the fall.
- Look carefully. If robbing is going on, you will see bees fighting with each other at the hive entrance. The ground in front of the hive may be littered with dead honey bees.
- The fighting bees release an alarm pheromone—an odor that warns other bees of the danger. The alarm pheromone makes other honey bees aggressive—more fighting means more pheromone is released which means more bees join the fray. The situation can escalate quickly.
- Once the alarm pheromone has aroused the bees, you and your pets and your neighbors are fair game as well.
- The odor of dead bees and the scent of honey being robbed attract other predators. Before long, wasps and yellow jackets have arrived on the scene to collect both meat and honey. This means more fighting and more alarm pheromone. What a mess.
- Honey bees and wasps are not the only creatures preparing for winter. Colonies in the fall may be attacked by raccoons, opossums, or skunks. Regular visits by any creature—including a beekeeper—may make honey bees more aggressive.
- Rainy weather, especially when it comes with heat and high humidity, makes bees cranky as well. During the “dog days of summer” no amount of fanning helps evaporate the nectar or cool the hive.
Of course, other factors can produce an aggressive hive. If the queen was superseded by a queen with more aggressive or Africanized genes, that could be the source of the problem. This is unlikely, however. More often than not aggressive behavior is merely a part of the cyclic nature of honey bee colonies.
Rusty
Comments
“I still can’t believe a day after getting into the hive, they’re still coming after me.”
I can believe it. It took my bees about three days to forgive me.
Yes, usually 3 days or sometime longer. But, it is all our mistakes – if we provide minimal disturbance to the bees, they are much more forgiving. When I just started bees (see my posts at the beginning of this thread), after every inspection bees patrolled my backdoor for days. Now, sometimes, I have no blockade at all! As Rusty properly explained, there are many factors, which could make bees moody. Sergey
Just got stung again trying to water the garden . . . 2 days after honey removal. I’m not sure that I can deal with this type of aggression. I need to tend to things outside and this is a nuisance. I’m debating splitting to help my weaker colony along with buying a new queen, or totally destroying this hive. I’m at a loss as a 3 year beekeeper.
Boy did I make a mistake. Just spun out my honey and figured what the heck, the ladies have worked so hard for the golden goodness why not just put the empty frames out in the apiary for them to clean off and store the excess for winter? Big mistake. I have accidentally promoted aggressive behavior and now have a 3-hive mess on my hands. My solution will be to suit up, smoke the area out, and remove the frames. I will rinse them elsewhere and sun dry them out to prevent any mold, and store them wrapped for next year’s use. I actually put a set of frames on the top of each hive figuring the bees would go the most available honey source. Nope, they seem programmed to fight for all of it, everywhere. My strongest hive is super active and I feel pretty bad about all of the dead and dying workers lost to my ill-conceived plan. So it goes.
Michael,
I put the empty frames back in the super and put the super back on the hive and close it up. That way the bees can clean up the frames inside the hive and not be so vulnerable to robbers.
Okay guys, I’m in dire need of advice. My two-year-old is highly allergic to bee stings, so I have always made sure I keep plants that are pollen-free so not to attract them. But the past 3 days he has not been allowed in the garden because I have honey bees that seem to be guarding my back door. There is only about 7 that hang around at once so knowing nothing about bees doubt that is enough for a nest to be present. They seem to just hover and attack any insect or fly that comes near the garden. Once they have chased insect off they return to where they were before visitor arrived. I really don’t want to use chemicals to kill them because they are very useful creatures that help pollinate and make honey, but I love my son too much to risk his health. Do you think they will calm down and move on at any point soon, or do I need to grab a can and get spraying?
Kaylea,
In my opinion, the attackers sound like some kind of wasp. Honey bees are not territorial except right near their hive, so I’m guessing they are not honey bees. To avoid using chemicals, I would catch the insects in a butterfly net and kill them (assuming there are just a few) or you can try hanging a wasp/yellow jacket trap in the garden. These traps do not use poisons and they are readily available at grocery, hardware, and home improvement stores.
Kaylea
Allergy reaction to the bees venom is serious because your son could meet a bee or wasp practically anywhere, in the kindergarten… in the parking lot… you name it. You need to ask your doctor for consultation with allergologist. Allergologist may suggest the course of decincibilization against the bee venom. Desincibilization is sort of reverse to allergy, it is effective in many cases. I do not know if they do it for young kids. Sergey
Okay, thank you very much. Will buy a trap asap and assume they are wasps, which I’m sure you’re correct because like I said in last thread I know nothing about bees. I realize I’m now on the incorrect thread but once I get rid of the unwanted wasps is there anything wildlife and child-friendly of course that can be put in a garden that wasps and bees will avoid as I feel so cruel killing them. I would much prefer to prevent this situation again. I realize this is probably a long-shot question and am sorry for being a pain.
Kaylea,
First off, you are not being a pain. Answering questions about bees—and sometimes wasps—is pretty much what happens around here.
That said, a garden is going to attract bees and wasps because it is a garden. Off hand, I don’t know of anything that will repel both bees and wasps. In fact, I can’t think of anything short of the kind of insect repellent you rub on yourself (like DEET) that might keep them away.
It seems I’ve heard of a bee repellant, but I can’t think of it.
Readers, does anyone know of a bee and or wasp repellant that would keep them away from a garden? Any other ideas for Kaylea?
Have heard that mint repels. Do you think this is true?
Kaylea,
Absolutely not! Many of the mint family plants are the all-time favorites of bees. I plant mint to attract bees.
Thank you very much, Rusty. I doubted there would be anything that would repel both but you have been very helpful and understanding
Our honey bees have certainly kept me running in house for last 3 yrs. From front of house to back deck. They are not very close to the house &even moved them further away but still aggressive. I have quit wearing any lotions, perfumes, hair products if I know I’m gonna be outside. Bees love sweet odors.
Great site. I am in southwest N.H. and have been dealing with a very aggressive hive for over one week now. They are all around back door were our dogs came arunning in after being stung many times, one we had to take to vet. I just brought down 2 containers of water and got it once about 30 yards from hive. How long will bees stay aggressive? We opened hive a few days ago to take some honey and check on it and its been crazy since then. I believe it must be the heat. Thoughts and suggestions would be helpful, Thanks. Boy its been hot!
Hi Peter,
In my opinion, they will stay aggressive as long as it stays hot and nectar is in short supply. I think they get extra defensive because they are short of winter stores and they know it. They will go a long way to protect what they have left.
I have talked to several beekeepers in our city and they have all experienced a radical change from a docile hive to a very aggressive hive. All have similar stories about being stung when mowing. My hive used to not care at all if I mowed. Now I’m getting stung and, worse yet, my neighbor is getting stung. Any help appreciated.
Chuck,
Bees get defensive in the late summer when nectar becomes scarce. In the spring and early summer they are busy collecting nectar from a seemingly endless supply of blooms, but when the flowers dry up, the bees aggressively defend what they have already collected. Robbing bees will try to steal their supplies as well as wasps and other predators, so they stay on the alert for trouble makers. Loud noises such as lawn mowers are perceived as possible threats. Typically, things that don’t bother spring bees definitely bother fall bees. Your situation is very normal. The bees will stay inside the hive once winter comes, and in the spring they will seem like their old docile selves. In the meantime, there is not much you can do except keep the lawnmower away from them.
Does it help to feed them in late summer when the nector is scarce?
It depends. If you spill any syrup outside the hive, it can cause a robbing frenzy. If you are careful not to spill, late summer feeding can keep your bees happy.
Kaylea,
I have a concoction that I have made and we are going to try to use it when we go out. Our bees have decided to attack us every time we go outside. They are swarming around my neighbor’s porch and fountains and stinging them. The neighbors are not happy with me. The concoction is called, “Vinegar of four Thieves”; it is a mix of vinegar and herbs. You might want to try and google it. Otherwise I know you can buy all the ingredients and instructions on the web site, http://www.bulkherbstore.com. Good Luck.
Well yesterday I experienced agressive behavior in one of my hives. This is my 1st season of beekeeping, and I have 2 hives. I’m trying to inspect and put screened bottoms on for the winter. One hive that had swarmed in June is very docile, and still needing to build honey stores;they have let me add the new bottom, feed, and medicate,but the healthy hive wouldn’t let me near them. A few made it up into my veil and stung me twice. After leaving the scene, and returning to close up the hive, they wouldn’t let up. I’m trying to put in top feeder (which I did), but couldn’t even attempt to add the screened bottom. Any advice on being able to add the bottom for ventilitation just before I winterize? I’m in northern Idaho.
Paulette,
Wait a few days and try again. Sometimes bees can be testy for no apparent reason and completely docile a week later. You can also try to do it early in the morning while the bulk of them are still in a cluster and not yet flying around. Are you using smoke? That may help as well.
If you don’t have to inspect frames and are going to just add the screened bottom board, it will probably go much smoother than it did with the inspection.
Hi everyone
I just read everyone’s comments and also have concerns about bee stings…I don’t know much about bees or wasps. I’m supposed to have my daughter’s birthday party outside this week (in North East) and am afraid about the bees. My brother is severly allergic to them. Should I move the party inside?
Thanks!
Liz,
I would have the party outside and keep your brother away from the bees. A party outside is so much better and at this time of year you are unlikely to be bothered much by bees or wasps of any type.
Hello, Love all of the information here. Please forgive me if this is the wrong place to ask questions. I have an old house that has had one or more large hives in it for twenty years now. Never even realized they were honey bees. Just last year or two there has been a huge pile of dead bees on the area around these hives and was curious; I figured it was some sort of spring cleaning or such. I am also very interested in beekeeping and any information would be helpful especially in proper removal of the hives (hopefully intact).
Darwin,
The presence of many dead bees around the base of a hive is not unusual. In the summertime a large hive may lose 1000 bees a day, and these are easily replaced by the colony. If the colonies in the house still look and sound normal, they probably are.
Removing a colony and installing it in a hive is tricky if you’re not an experienced beekeeper. It requires cutting the combs out of the structure and tying them onto frames or top bars. Alternatively, the area can be closed off and the bees trapped as they leave the colony or return.
I think your best bet is to call a local beekeeping club and see if someone will help you do this. At least they could come out and look at the colonies and give an opinion on the feasibility of moving them.
Best of luck.
We live in the Texas Hill Country. Our honey bees are NOT being aggressive, except at their hives, of course. However, they are congregating at every door into our house. Just this morning I captured and put outside at least 25 bees. Of course, who knows how many got in when we opened the door to release the captured ones! They are not at all aggressive when I am outside around the house–more nosy and interested. It seems they are everywhere in the immediate 2 acres around the house–in the vegetable garden, courtyard, on everything that is blooming and hanging around the doors in an attempt to gain entry. If anyone knows what causes this, I’d love to know!
I am new to beekeeping, so need some advice here. Yesterday I inspected the hive, pulled a few frames in my supers to see how the girls are going, they were quite docile. One bee managed to get into my suit and crawled around my neck, finally in went the stinger. I had to keep going as I had the hive apart but the bees very quickly got agitated and flew at me crashing into my veil.
Now a day later when I go near the hive there is one that comes crashing into me and burrowing into my hair, buzzing like mad. It chases me back to the house. I already have a nice big itchy welt on my neck from the bee that got into my suit and I don’t need another. How long does it take for the bees to forgive me and also what is an average safe distance one can go near a hive (unsuited) without getting attacked?
Glen,
When the first bee stung you, it released pheromones that alerted other bees in the hive that danger was about, so they came out to defend the hive. If a bee gets in your suit, it is often best just to pinch it right through the fabric. If it stings you it will die anyway. If you kill it before it stings you, all those pheromones won’t be released.
You have some bees in the hive that are more defensive than others. Remember, although all the bees in the colony have the same mother, they have different fathers, which means they have different genes and different temperaments. Usually the bees calm down after a few hours or sometimes up to 12 hours. It depends on many factors, including temperature, weather, presence of robbers and predators, etc.
You don’t say where you are, so I don’t know how cold it is, but by this time of year you really shouldn’t need a suit, especially if you approach the hive and open it from the back.
I have been reading all the posts and don’t understand the problem. I have a water feature about 20 feet outside my patio door with a rag hanging over the side for the bees to get water. Even now on a nice day here in North Las Vegas, NV the bees will be all aver the rag getting water.
I’m in and out picking up land mines and tending to my covered beds and the bees totally ignore me. I have three hives at the side of my house and never had a problem with bees attacking me. I normally work my hive without gloves or a veil we get along real well. Although I did get stung a couple times this fall by that one pesky guard that just had to make that ultimate sacrifice
Larry,
The aggressive thing happens once in a while under certain circumstances. It is an exception, not the rule. Most bees most of the time behave just like yours.
I am taking a long shot here. I was wondering if someone could help me. I live in Arizona and moved into a new house that backs up to the mountain 8 years ago. I have lived in Arizona for 37 years and have never experienced what I am now. I do have a pool, but I also had one in every house I have lived in and have never had the problems I do now. I have very low or no flowering plants in my backyard.
What I am experiencing and have experienced since I moved in, is erratic bees that zip all over my yard all day, all the time. They don’t get a drink and they don’t go to the few flowers I have. They literally zip around my yard crazily. They don’t land, except sometimes on my cool deck or wall. I have had a bee company out and they found no hive. I also have regular pest control and they don’t know what is causing this. My children and I cannot enjoy our backyard for fear of being stung because they seem to be kamikaze bees. Can anyone tell me how to get rid of them? They are very, very aggressive and I can’t figure out what they are doing in my backyard! Thank you very, very much! Susan R.
Susan,
I don’t know. You say they are zipping across your yard and they don’t land, but they are aggressive? How are they aggressive? Have they chased you? Have they stung you? Have they flown into you? I don’t have a picture of the aggressive part so I can’t really say what they might be. Are there any readers in Arizona who recognize this behavior? Let us know.
Hello,
Yes, they have chased me and my kids. Luckily we have not been stung. They try to fly into us and when we run inside they bump against our patio door window. They also bump into other windows in my backyard.
Susan,
You’ve convinced me they are aggressive. No doubt. Next question: is it possible to catch one and take a photo of it? Do you have a butterfly net or something similar? It doesn’t matter if it’s dead or alive as long as it’s not squished. If we could figure out what it is, we would have a better chance of figure out where it’s living.
I will take a picture and send it as soon as possible. What email should I send the picture to?
Thank you very much!
Susan
Susan,
I sent you an e-mail.
Hello, so my parents and I just moved into a new house in February, and for about 2 weeks now we noticed there’s a beehive somewhere on our house. Also, the bees seem to be living or are trapped inside the walls of our den. Is this dangerous or should they be ok? We definitely do not want to harm them or anger them, and we walk in and out of the den and backyard and they seem to be nice to us but in any case we do not want to get stung or be a threat to them, and they be a threat to us. Will they eventually leave over time, or are they going to live in our walls for… ever? 2 days ago, though, they seemed to be very angry with each other and at the front door of our den there were approximately a few hundred bees (maybe I’m exaggerating but there were too many to feel safe) but they calmed down and there’s just about 20 flying around the roof and who knows how many are in our walls.. BASICALLY what should we do about this situation? Should we worry or let them be?
Narine,
It is impossible to tell if they are bees or wasps just from your description. Both honey bees and wasps are known for making nests in walls. It sort of sounds like honey bees, but I can’t be sure. Do you have a photo you could send? They behave very differently. Honey bees probably wouldn’t bother you much if they were left alone, but wasps can become pretty cranky. No matter what they are, bee hives are hard to get out of walls.
I should also mention I am having a birthday party tonight, and I’m worried that the loud music/bass will disrupt them.. Do they get angered by loud music?
Sometimes bees and wasps both get upset by loud music, but they are not apt to fly around at night. If the party is after dark it is probably not a problem.
Hello everyone. We are from Indiana and are trying to relocate to Tennessee. We found a house we REALLY want but my 11 year old son is allergic to bee stings. Not all types but the doctor says they are not sure what kind. the place we found has a Honey Bee keeping operation on the property. I was wondering if it would be a bad idea to live there. We think it would be ok as long as my son stays away from where the bees are being kept but I am not sure and would love some advice.