Why Are My Honey Bees Stinging Me? Must See

[@thicboibigsmoke7220]

*getting sting by several bees* “As you can see they’re not exactly friendly” Not even an ouch. Do you eat nails for breakfast?

[@dr.k9769]

He stung his thumb, arm... Ahhhh yikes, he isn't flinching!! Id already be gone 🏃 🏃

[@rennataxz3190]

Barnyard: *just touches bees with bare hands* Barnyard: *why are they stinging me?* Bees: because you ALWAYS touch us!

[@CadePellett]

Yea, if you touch us one more time we're reporting you to the cops!!

[@phantomlogic6940]

It's like the bees are teens saying, "GO AWAY DAD! I NEED MY SPACE!!"

[@tgg1033]

Except saying that kills them.

[@bradgoliphant]

Wow David. You do the most unusual things for teaching others and I'm so grateful for you. I'm starting back this year and am so nervous about getting stunk and you make it look like it's no big deal. I'm going to try to stay calm and not react like you are doing, and make sure I go into the hive in optimal days of sunshine. So grateful

[@Gandoff2000]

Well, wake me up that early, I am cranky too. lol

[@fearnotliz]

I learned this the hard way . My hive fell over and my husband had noticed and told me . When I told him Id have to wait til morning he insisted I fix the hive . Mind you he knows nothing about bees . Im the one that is the beekeeper . Anyways after about an hour of bothering me that I better fix the hive or an animal might kill the bees me like a dummy put my bee suit on . I couldn’t see a thing and the bees started sticking to me like I was velcro . I got stung once under the arm and that was it for me . I yelled at my husband and fixed the hive in the morning . Lesson learned

[@davidhaught84]

Oh no, you should have told him that he has to fix the hive now, lol.

[@TheTrooperGirl]

I have gone thru my hives at different times of the day. My girls are favorable in the early evening. They are extremely calm and never mind me at all. They make this soothing humming sound. When they want me out of their hive.... there is a Buzz sound.

[@YB-PC-BYourself]

I notice when Bees are going to sting or be more aggressive, you can see a quick movement, Sometimes times short quick sprint (walk) or jitters. A calm hive moves but it is at a slower pace. I am no expert just a viewer of many educational videos by many different providers.

[@sharonriley948]

Hi David, My very first colony over 30 years ago thrilled me so much I could not sleep. So one night about midnight I decided to look in on them just because I thought they were so neat. Need I say they disabused me of that activity quickly. I learned to "NEVER AGAIN" go bee hive snooping at night. Later I learned a similar lesson about working them in a rain!!! I didn't need a second lesson in either instance! Rick in Pa.

[@David-rh4oo]

Dave, appreciate ALL your videos! I'm an experienced Bee Guy but I still get tips from you. Amazing creatures, appreciate your work!

[@davidhaught84]

Thanks so much!!!

[@speedfreak7371]

Thanks for the tip. I am a new bee keeper and thank you for the warning. I was told you can get in them at night by a old timer. But I think I am going to pass on that thought now.

[@Digger927]

I've handled bees for years and stings still swell up the area where I've been hit. I hate being stung. I can ignore being stung on anywhere but my face but I still hate it.

[@skywave12]

Eat Honey from your local area when you are young. Take care of Young ones you grow:-) Some Hate Peanuts.

[@tomhall3172]

Brent Im the same way Brother. I have a small sketer net hood I wear for peace of mind. They could sting right thru it but it keeps them out of my ears. Thats all I need.

[@cluelessbeekeeping1322]

@Brent No kidding, getting stung isn't fun!

[@rajbeekie7124]

Brent, I am with you. Bee stings hurt and I always wear a suit, gloves, and veil. The few times I have taken off the gloves I am stung repeatedly.

[@bradprather6749]

David.....self sacrifice, wow! Thanks bro. I'm only four years into beekeeping, and I've heard of this.... never at night, never during bad weather. Love your channel.

[@WarpedYT]

Why are they gentle when it's sunny and aggressive at night or during thunderstorms?. Is there a particular reason for that?

[@WarpedYT]

Barnyard Bees thanks , that makes sense but why is their attitude different?

[@CallMeDoozi]

Smileyrie James makes sense

[@RoughAndWretchedRAW]

I'm guessing their senses like vision are affected and also many of the natural predators that attack hives are nocturnal. Nasty at night or in dim weather is most likely an inherited survival trait.

[@neoben00]

The temperature of the brood nest falls quickly and all of the guard bees and foragers are home. Young bees dont typically try to defend the nest they just care about the brood.

[@jc2coming]

Because predators often hunt at night, but especially early in the morning and in the evening when animals and insects, go hunting, so they become aggressive/defensive, depending on whether they are predators or preys...and bees are no difference, because they are in the food chain. Now you know, and if you apply this principle the next time you go fishing, you will catch a lot more fish, especially fresh water fishing!

[@artistaloca4]

DUDE!! Am so glad you put this out. Thanks for helping folks to understanding honeybees❤️👍

[@brooklyntguy6349]

HOW ARE YOU NOT SCARED

[@KidzBopOfficial]

Calmly, almost with some disappointment, voice not faltering for a moment, "Yeah, they just stung me."

[@hardinautosalesllc]

Thank you for this video. Total opposite of what I thought.

[@skywave12]

Just to let everyone know I took 2 brood frames from Dave's in 4 weeks from a package that took 10 days to send to expand others. The Bee's are small. However they are very hardy and grow up. They fend off mean hives in my Apiary.

[@gopibble]

Um... you could have just told us. We would take your word for it.

[@scottlincoln9900]

I just got a queen to startan indoor observation hive. This is....superb info lol. Bees are like people when you just jar them from sleep, they can react with bot so niceness lol.

[@privatebubba8876]

Night time ain't the right time to inspect your bees. I surprised they took that long to light you up.

[@txholeyrocks]

My bees at night is the best time to do whatever I am looking for.

[@privatebubba8876]

post us a video Zak that would be very interesting.

[@Textile_Courtesan]

If it's a small colony is it worthwhile to lose a dozen bees for this demonstration?

[@privatebubba8876]

yes

[@LNLN123]

Thank you for this educational video

[@michellelee6306]

"I get stung every single day".... What!?!... LOL

[@franklotion8]

Well that explains yer massive HULK of a frame..yer just permanently all swelled up..haha..awesome vid brotha😎👍👍

[@shannon6815]

Frank Lotion I was watching his vids for a while before I ever saw him, and you right he is hugh compared to my small ass. 5'6" 155lbs. Then saw David and was shocked. U heard some one u kinda get an image in ur head ,ppl a most always don't look like u think. He looks as if he lifts wieghts or used to lol.

[@franklotion8]

Shannon Sargent lol...same here..was months before i saw him in a vid...completely blew me away..lol💪💪💪

[@urnomatch4me96]

Their's beekeepers that have jars of honey he's got buckets !! He's all swelled up from lifting all that sweet sweet honey. Nice find someone keeping bees safe people forget how important honey bees are to humanity from hungry

[@truthiz7873]

I wouldn't think any bee keeper would work their bees at night. Ya think ?

[@danamorrow5352]

I ignored the rule about leaving them alone during rainy weather yesterday and my hive ate me up. A storm was blowing in and you could hear the thunder in the distance when I started. By the time I closed the hive up they were all over me. I put my veil on after 1 tried to go up my nose but that was all the protection I had on. Normally I don't even wear the veil. A little smoke and they leave me alone. I wouldn't have been in there yesterday but I have been really busy and not inspected the hive in a while and wanted to see what was going on in there.

[@debrafields4797]

I just love how do you educate a wonderful job to show us how it works I love watching you I don’t get offended at all

[@DrOlegKulikov]

i work with my asian honey bees half or completely naked and use no protection but splash my body with water to remove beads of sweat on the body. bees normally do not sting me at all. but i treat them nicely and do not interfere with the colony life. only to prepare the colony for harvesting of honey - i move a top box with honey combs to the bottom position and during the harvesting itself I remove gently combs from below of the beehive so that bees have time to move from the honey combs to the nest above. no frames are used. i just cut out the combs with honey and return parts with brood if there are any to the beehive afterwards. the beehive is of the Warre's type adapted to tropical climate. greetings from thailand

[@dougbardsley1960]

Appreciate you showing us this but really I would have taken your word for it. Lol

[@ateamm]

I could have used this video 5 days ago! Was moving a hive at dusk and wanted to check how the beetle tap at the bottom was doing before the move. Instantly got 3 stings from just touching a frame.

[@TheSeabeemike]

amazing how you are able to take stings without even flinching

[@Flounder3000]

As a new bee keeper, Thank You for the video. Very informative.

[@nerdychau]

Omg I just thought this was so funny that he was staying calm why the bees were stinging him. Like how he was like they’re trying to go up my shorts and this one just stung me and it’s stuck. Lol 😂 it’s great how he is given great advice to other bee keepers. And I guess his queen bee vid really did go viral cause it even popped up in my recommended wow never watched any bee videos before but it’s so interesting

[@MuskratOutdoors]

I have found a quick look (pulling one or two frames only) at my bees in the morning, before it warms up much, works well. No smoke or veil needed . Latter in the day, I almost always need the smoke and a veil. I've never used a full bee suit, or gloves, but our bees are pretty gentle compared to some I have seen on You Tube. If I'm going to go through the hive completely, and really work with them, latter in the day is much better. Our friend that does this for a living told me "You want to rob their house when they aren't home." Makes sense! Latter in the day, most are out looking for pollen.

[@robfinch3277]

I`ve had my bees go from happy to cranky and back to happy within a few minutes with a dark cloud passing in front of the sun. I just sit back, wait for the cloud to pass on and alls good

[@uptank8461]

Barny you should have added don't open after a thunderstorm, I have paid the price with lots of stings they were very angry as there sensitive to electricity in the air.

[@wanderingcalamity360]

Good to know.

[@jessieliang1999]

I could feel those stingers through the screen... His hand also looks a little red and bumpy at the beginning of the video, is that from last stings? I know he's not allergic to them, but the hand looks rough

[@kentholmes3648]

In Kentucky my two hives get full sun until about 11 am. Then they are in full shade until about 3 pm. I go in my hives once the shade hits them. This seems to work for me and my bees.

[@franklocascio4471]

Great video. I learn this first hand. I learned it on a raining, windy day. On a nice sunny day, it's like I'm not even there as far as the Bees are concern (assuming I'm being very gentel with Bees and Movement)

[@MakerBayfield]

do you ever accidentally squish the bees when putting the top on?

[@generalbomax]

For your sake, I hope you stay immune. I thought the same thing until, one sting changed all that and became highly allergic.

[@vamountainman2512]

Gary Kula same, never bothered by stings at all until around 18yrs of age. Been stung numerous times as a child and it did little more than hurt briefly. A swarm of some type of ground bee lit me up once and that even didn't have terrible results. Every bee sting after that attack though has brought crazy swelling and lightheadedness

[@generalbomax]

VA Mountain Man: In the past, I’ve had mild reactions at the sting site. Now, I avoid bees at all costs since my last two stings caused major reactions away from the single sting site. Now I have to have an Epi-Pen in the car. Sucks

[@SkirnirW]

Glad someone brought up the topic of allergies and it's a very strange beast of its own. Allergies can happen to ANYONE and just because you're immune today, DOESN'T mean you won't be allergic tomorrow. Doesn't matter if it's bees, iodine, peanuts, latex, etc. I ate fish and shellfish all of my life, my favorite food used to be shrimp. Then one day, BOOM... I'm in the hospital with a 40BPM heart-rate, double-digit systolic blood-pressure and can't feel anything from the neck down. Next thing I know, Can't eat fish (freshwater OR saltwater), Shellfish or ANYTHING aquatic (No one knows why). Enjoy it while you can, because you never know when your body is going to just turn around and shut you off.

[@crzrck]

I discovered this last year. I didn't go in the hive I was just watching The Hive with a flashlight and that is enough to work them up. I still will look at him at night if they're bearding and it's real hot out. But I don't get in their face doing it anymore

[@TheHandyHippieCrew]

I've done 5 cutouts and the only stings i've gotten have been trapped under my shirt or ones I've grabbed and squeezed not realizing I had them in my hand... ugh I was just on my way out side at 930 at night to move hives and frames out of my swarm boxes since we just finished building 10 deeps and assembling 100 new frames... been really busy with work

[@victorybaptisttemple5359]

You said you don’t swell when you get stung; has it always been like that for you, or have you built up an immunity to it?

[@Kio_vidz]

So always work with bees around 13-16 to have them gentle enough to hold them on ur hand?

[@robertmurphy9498]

The sound of the hive seems different and as soon as you opened the lid they seemed very agitated, running round frantically. A good lesson.

[@debrafields4797]

I don’t get offended at all I love how you educate

[@snobird33]

Did your body have to adjust over the years to the stings, like in the beginning your stings would swell up but not now?

[@Dazzelem]

I know you say you get stung daily but....does it not hurt you at all? Like....I could never work in a bee yard without a suit.

[@privatebubba8876]

It still hurts but some folks build up a tolerance and they no longer have any other physical reactions like swelling.

[@ateamm]

The actual poke doesn't really hurt and the venom kind of burns but only for a minute. It's really not that bad.

[@Dazzelem]

ateamm All I know is that in my lifetime I’ve only been stung twice and it’s hurt like hell both times and lasted way longer than a minute. More like half an hour or more.

[@ateamm]

I'm sure everyone is different. I guess I'm lucky that the venom doesn't affect me much! I didn't really have any swelling either.

[@thenotsurechannel7630]

Dalton Hall are you sure you weren't stung by yellow jackets? It sounds like that's what you're describing as far as the pain lingering as it did. Honey bees are way different

[@samsungtv4u]

thanx as a new bee keeper i assumed a good or best time to check your bees to best asses hive size ext,, is before sunset wen its still warm and most bees are back . boy was i wrong ,, they told me the dint like that and i check them a few hours before sunset now , i have notes-ed hives that are in direct sun are nicer then the ones in the shade of the trees..

[@unisol2287]

What about to check the hive on the morning when the mayority is outside foraging?

[@SageandStoneHomestead]

My bees were MAD at me right before a storm. I wasn't opening the hive I was just checking landing board activities and they said NOPE NOT RIGHT NOW.

[@michaelyoho4848]

Thank you for the fantastic info and advice.

[@TK-un1pu]

First in 2020, I could not be a beekeeper and you are amazing! Keep the educational videos coming!

[@TheMastermine9]

Oh that stung me.... so did that one..... so did that one.... I know it gets easier the longer you work with them but my god that takes strength

[@skywave12]

Great education. My face, head, nose don't swell however my hands and wrists do. Maybe I need to get stung more. Interesting.

[@KevinsNorthernExposure]

I don't swell until the next day....back of my head or top of head...no swell...but my hand? yep....hurts like someone is squeezing it for a couple days....stung below eye and side of face swelled for a couple days. not a fan. Yesterday 4 bees got in my veil and I panicked as usual...lol bam!

[@howellj77]

Yep, that happens to me now too. I swell up like a balloon, but didn't when I first started keeping. Weird.

[@skywave12]

Agreed. Just imagine a Eye getting stung. I would panic. I think most blink fast enough though. If the itching starts and last a long time I just wait for the swelling to go down and itch at times. Also my legs seem to be immune. It does not seem to be a blood circulation issue. Strange.

[@wanderingcalamity360]

My arms and hands don't really seem to swell, but I just took my first sting to the face and I've got a decent little knot forming from it.

[@timbarnes9280]

same as me at night, lol

[@edd8282]

I'm new to bee keeping cough 2 swarms last year with swarm traps and if I'm not suited up I'd be stung head to toe. Checked on the hive the other day and when I went back 20min later to do some gardening in a green house 15m away one attacked me and stung me on the head lol

[@chadpayne5741]

How many time do you have to get stung before the tolerance is built up?

[@bigboybees1864]

Face stings are hard to ignore for me!

[@goldbee6150]

Lol I accidentally learnt this last night when I though I would move my hive. Stung right though gloves and suit which had never happened before

[@waynecostanza2280]

Valuable lesson! Thank you.

[@centralscrutinizer76]

if my bee box makes a popping noise when i open it with the hive tool they go crazy.

[@LycomingWarrior]

How long will it tale the bees to fill out all 5 frames?

[@jsauerii]

David. In all of these videos by the people I follow there is one critical thing missing. Where should our hives, splits etc be with honey, nectar, pollen etc before the summer dearth. What should be in a 10 frame with 1 deep, one with 2 that's not ready for a super? What would be in a new split that sitting in a nuc with a new queen just starting to lay, with a well laying queen with 5 frames full? This is one of the few things this first year of mine I am completely unsure of. I have 2 hives with 2 deeps not yet ready for a super and we have been dry so likely wont be any this year, I have a couple of 10 deeps not ready for a second deep, I have splits that the mated queens just started laying in 5 frame nucs with from 2.5 frames drawn to 4.5 etc. I know some will never make it if things don't change. We did finally get some rain so that helped but I found a couple without anything left before it rained, I tried feeding and they were getting robbed even with hive tops. I decided to feed every hive one night to see if that would stop it, it didn't. I have only lost 1 hive / nuc so far, I have one other that lost their queen before she started laying that I may yet lose. It could have been a victim to one one the countless dragonflies I found around the yard munching on my bees. But in all of this I have no clear idea where they should be now. Plenty of info on seasons end but even then I have no idea what they will gain before winter with our late summer and fall sunflowers that are everywhere in KS. As always thanks and hopefully this will give you some new video material. If it has been covered I have missed it some where.

[@jsauerii]

Thank you. I just went into my package hive which is hive 1 about an hour ago to snag a partial frame off eggs to give one of the nucs that has lost their queen in the mating flight I guess (that and managed to kill two cells I added 2 days before emergence) , it is one of two hives that have two 10 frame deeps and the bottom would be about that much honey/nectar stores, I had taken two frames up to the top to get them to build into the second body and they have a couple more frames up there, not a lot capped anywhere but we just finally got some rain a few days back and we are at 100 the last few days so some might well be water in the cells. The nucs barely have any but the queens just started laying and the bees seem to barely care about buildup before the queens started laying. That brings up the question of single or double deep brood boxes through the winter. I know you mentioned you have honey production elsewhere. What is your opinion on that? I have seen the math on it and they show them surviving because they are in a single box so the bees will be in numbers accordingly. I see people with single deep brood boxes with 5 supers on top of those hives getting filled and capped completely so I am seriously thinking of that but don't want to starve them out either my first year. My biggest problem is just getting them to draw the comb faster. I tried supplementing 50/50 syrup but that's causing a lot of robbing issues in the splits. Thanks again for the response, it is truly appreciated.

[@Rah1381]

Excellent Analysis

[@duncanlockwood6772]

Hay Barney, I’m glad for you that your hobbies are not lions or crocks.

[@wanderingcalamity360]

This is really interesting. Thanks for this. Just took several stings this evening around 8 pm, trying to top them off on feed. We had just done some mowing in the area (but not near them), so I suspected that the noise and vibrations might have had them agitated. It was also 100°F here today in Houston, and I was wondering if that might have had them a bit agitated and defensive, too. I've taken a sting from accidentally rolling a bee bare handed while trying to scoop some up in my hand, but this was the first time they actually came after me with intent to sting. It being later in the evening and around sunset was probably a contributing factor, in light of this video.

[@gueritodrew]

Wow! never even pulled out the stingers, just left them in pumping to show people!

[@Safa-vy8xy]

*breathes* the only reason i’m doing this video is so a new beekeeper will know when and how to draw breath

[@rodkirt9273]

I have noticed that sometimes the bees don’t seem to care but at other times they will “ tare you up” !!!

[@seetheforest]

Do you think the rain has anything to do with it? I tried to move my swarm onto hive boxes yesterday. It was a huge task with all they had built in 11 days. At one point it started to thunder and get windy like it was going to rain and they got a little frantic, so did I. I got them moved and they stuffed two 10 frame deep boxes to overflowing.

[@SkirnirW]

Thanks for taking the hits to explain this. Saw some of the replies, and that's sound reasoning. If someone tore the roof off of _your_ house while _you_ were relaxing after a long day of work, you'd probably be a bit nettled too! lol. Another informative video with a good message, "Bees have limits too, respect them or you're gonna get stung"

[@10p7]

You´ve made a Nuc / beehive don´t know what this small one is, out of chipboard. I was considering that too. Would it be possible to make for instance lansroth beehive with everything made out of chipboard?

[@insylem]

Why are Bees more gentle in sunny hot weather?

[@johnchapman9487]

I got a new bumble bee hive under a pathway next to my doorway. They’re calm and chill. Give them sugar water and everything, are they more aggressive at night. Also they’re always foraging around in 3s or 4s , does that mean it’s only started ?

[@spudgn]

Thanks Dave

[@georgeadcock2347]

I know from personal experience David's bees are really gentle. I still don't bother them at the the wrong time...

[@prophetsofgamespog2709]

I got one question why is my I believe to be mated queen not laying egg?

[@messiahgonahe1404]

“He just stung my thumb* u are so brave wow

[@joebob1970jc]

When is the best time to order bees

[@davidhaught84]

Order them now, so you will be near top of the list.

[@joebob1970jc]

@@davidhaught84 how much for too 📦 of bees and where do I pay

[@txholeyrocks]

My bees have estimated 60 to 80% Africanized DNA. Night time is the best time to do anything with them. Temperament is many factors.

[@AndyColvin]

I don't think any new beekeeper thought that anytime after the sun goes down would be a good time to inspect the hives. Not one.

[@PureLivingForOutdoors]

bro you are crazy! Been beekeeping for 3 years and I hate working my bees anywhere close to dark or in bad weather! lol Do that with a double deep loaded with bees with a full 20 frames... HAHAHA

[@SV_Try_Magic]

Pure Living For Outdoors exactly. As soon as you pop the lid and lift that inner cover they will be on you like angry junkyard dogs. You will hear their annoyance too, they will all pulse their wings and make a short buzz when they don’t like something you are doing.

[@PureLivingForOutdoors]

rizendell oh I know! I don’t dare mess with my hives after a storm or before dark unless it’s an emergency

[@skywave12]

He did it while Raining. :-) Bee's do not like wet either.

[@thomasbroking7943]

I am guessing night time is when they would be attacked something trying to eat them..?

[@robertlengemann4947]

I learnt the hard way I went in at night. And they where like killer bees they followed me all the way to the house. I couldn’t even close the lid they where everywhere. And the most amazing part was they understood my bee suit they couldn’t get in but they knew how. They went right for my boot the elastic around my gloves and the zipper under my vail. They knew how to get in even though they couldn’t but they understood that those parts where there only chance of getting at me.

[@skywave12]

Grab a water hose and Spray them. Problem solved.

[@ALLofYOU2]

So did you ever swell up?

[@richardkocis5273]

Thanks Dave very good information

[@ralphmazraani5925]

So, I closed up my hive in order to move it. After doing so, the next day, I realized there was a whole where some were able to get out. And now they are going back to their old location. What should I do??... it seems like all my gatherers bees are back at the old location.... thanks

[@planetvideocesena3054]

That's very interesting. You really know them well.

[@N2MEDS]

Thanks David for another great educational video. Love your video's and the five packages of bee's I recieved, the best bees I have ever owned. Thanks R Bell

[@jerryanctil8118]

You may be a critter,that invades at night. Protect the hive from invaders.

[@I.dont.k]

It's a really good job I'm not a beekeeper my naiber is alerjic to them imagine this happened to him

[@Apathymiller]

thanks for this, i learned something new. much appreciated

[@courtneybanks6498]

Dosent that hurt?

[@mizzprettyhuston]

I've noticed since I got stung on Saturday evening my bees act differently around me....can they sense I've been stung.....my husband can mow by them but if I just go out and stand beside the box within a couple minutes I'll have about 4 or 5 literally follow me back towards the house.....I feel calm and not scared so what gives? Lol why do my bees hate me? 😢

[@Playerfortunos]

"they're trying to go up my shorts" . Jesus christ

[@richiejohnson]

@Zeljko Trifunovic superstitious freak