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