Defensive Behavior and Sting Prevention

1 . What is the difference between aggressive behavior of bees and defensive behavior of bees?

Honey bees are not aggressive but have various levels of defensive behavior. Honey bees only sting when they perceive that the colony/nest is threatened. There are various levels of “defensive behavior” from bees that are almost always calm to Africanized bees that are very defensive.

2 . Can “defensive behavior” change in a colony from one week to another?

While defensive behavior is mostly genetically determined, defensive behavior can also change for various other reasons: heat, dearth, cloudy, rainy, humidity, or too rapid growth in the colony population.

3 . What is the sequence of “defensive behavior”?

Guard bees note threat at entrance of colony. Guard bees alert nest mates by posture and release of alarm pheromone and string pheromone from mandibular glands. Alerted nest mates leave the nest and search for the attacker. They orient the attack by motion, color, contrasts, vibration, scent, dark colors, rough textures, and animal scent. Once the attacker is found, the bees perform threat behavior. This includes, threat posture, buzzing, burrowing into hair, biting, and running. Eventually she will sting, and this releases sting or alarm pheromone and that attracts other bees to the attacker.

4 . How can you avoid stings?

• Gentle handling (Protective leather gloves can lead to rough handling).

• Slow motions

• No perfume

• Light colored and appropriate protective clothing