Thats what I thought also. I asked if they were Italians or some thing and he laughed very loudly and said "nao , Afrikana!" I did notice that these bees move amazingly fast when disturbed. I have NEVER seen this in my bees or any other hives I have visited in the USA. The second Apaiary I visited, we had no smoke and no protection. I moved just a few branches to get a better picture and I got nailed in the forhead. There were about 50 or so chasing us down the hill. My brother inlaw got stung in the lip and on the ear. This was the response from a Brazilian beekeeper on Beesource to my posting.........
Joao Campos
Field Bee
posted February 13, 2006 06:28 PM
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>The key to keeping them from attacking is working from the rear of the hive and use LOTS and LOTS of smoke.
Yes, LOTS of people do that here. They usually harvest a unique, exotic tar-tasted honey. Maybe they like it.
I think that's the wrong way. You do it with much less smoke, if you can trust your coveralls. But then you won't be able to get eyebrows up when telling things to the layman . It's true that some colonies need more smoke - sometimes quite more - to be worked, but it's far from necessary in most managements.
I've contested this practice many times, and I've even quoted an inspired article from Jim Fischer ( Blowin' Smoke) in a faq.
(But, Jim, don't break out in tears of proud joy too quick - I don't expect more than a handful of beekeepers to care for what I write - and I'm not sure if they can read in English. )
João
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Posts: 42 | From: Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil | Registered: Sep 2004 | IP: Logged |