Getting happy bees to buzz louder for the BBC!

BBC Somerset investigates reports of the heat causing bees to behave aggressively. Here Emily is very close to 100,000 plus bees who are undisturbed by interruptions.

BBC Somerset’s Emily Brown called round this week to discuss whether the heatwave is making our bees aggressive. She was looking into reports from beekeepers “that bees are this summer becoming very protective and aggressive over their honey. One beekeeper has said he’s been stung multiple times this season, which never normally happens.”
Now that isn’t my experience – I have one lively lot but they haven’t stung me (yet!) – and suggested the colony either need requeening or it was being opened up when the conditions were thundery etc.
Emily was keen to see the bees for herself so visited one of my apiaries to take a look. I steered her towards a small colony (created as part of swarm control measures in May) but which is busy filling a couple of supers.
Fortunately the bees carried on working and didn’t take any notice of us even when she asked me to get them to buzz louder (we’re talking radio!). Hopefully the bees and I dispelled the notion that the heat and honey is sending our bees wild. And that seems to be the experience of our members – the comments on Somerset’s Facebook page suggests the sunshine and heat is making our bees happy.
Anne Pike, SBKA Chairman