Some hives just are more aggressive than others.

This is said to be caused by an ornery Queen.

They alarm more easily.

They send out the “kill” pheramone more readily than other hives.

This is Miss Lucy Hive.

I was reading about aggressive bees the other day and I came across a beekeeper who had a shirt that said “I’m John the Beekeeper. If I’m running, you should to.”

Now, I am cheerleading 4 hives. Lucy Hive is the one that stings me the most.

It all started on a sunny day, when I got out my spikey little cage and yellow marker, to mark the queen. I do it ever so gently. I try not to squish her beauteous long legs or her elegant hips. Her children did not take kindly to the momentary trapping, and they rammed their little butts in the back of my gloves and the stinger charged into the back of my hand. This is the weakest part of my bee suit.

Now it must be said that I was not stung at all the first year I kept bees.

The second year, however, I was stung 4 times in one week. I went to the pharmacy because my hand was itchy and swelling to the point where my knuckles looked like dimples. The pharmacist was very kind and suggested I stay away from any bees for a bit. Um, not going to happen.

Lucy hive is so ornery that when I try to do the bi-weekly check-ups, they fly into my face and bounce off the screen. The noise level of angry bees is incredible. It sounds like a diesel engine.

This weekend, I winterized my bees. Simply put, I take any mite strips out, take the syrup buckets out, put lots of dry sugar on the inner cover, and shut them up tight until March.

Lucy would have none of it. They stung me three times on the back of my hand. (itchy!) And received less dry sugar in my effort to close ‘er up as fast as possible. Perhaps Lucy is in need of a new monarch, with better manners.

You’ll be happy to know that all the other hives were much more congenial.