Pear drop smell in bee hive?

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Pear drop smell in bee hive?

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Grenwich

Joined: 20 Jan 2008
Posts: 151
Location: Leicestershire

Posted: Thu Jun 19, 08 9:23 am Post subject: Pear drop smell in bee hive?
Does anybody know what this means please? I'm sure I've heard about it in the past but can't find anything on it in my books. I suspect it's an indication of a disease (grooooaaaaaan), as they're not doing too well at the moment.

vegplot

Joined: 19 Apr 2007
Posts: 21301
Location: Bethesda, Gwynedd

Posted: Thu Jun 19, 08 10:07 am Post subject: Re: Pear drop smell in bee hive?

Grenwich wrote:

Does anybody know what this means please? I'm sure I've heard about it in the past but can't find anything on it in my books. I suspect it's an indication of a disease (grooooaaaaaan), as they're not doing too well at the moment.

The pear drop smell may be isoamyl acetate (used in pear drops).

"Isoamyl acetate is released by a honey bee's sting apparatus where it serves as a pheromone beacon to attract other bees and provoke them to sting"

Perhaps there was an invader in your hive.

Tavascarow

Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Posts: 8407
Location: South Cornwall

Posted: Thu Jun 19, 08 12:55 pm Post subject:
New to me. Definately one to open & investigate further.

Grenwich

Joined: 20 Jan 2008
Posts: 151
Location: Leicestershire

Posted: Thu Jun 19, 08 8:14 pm Post subject:
OK thanks guys, will need to do a bit more research. G .

jamanda
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 22 Oct 2006
Posts: 35057
Location: Devon

Posted: Thu Jun 19, 08 8:16 pm Post subject:

Grenwich wrote:

OK thanks guys, will need to do a bit more research. G .

I'm going to our apiary on Sunday. I'll enquire for you.

Mrs Fiddlesticks

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 10460

Posted: Thu Jun 19, 08 8:36 pm Post subject:
thinking back to something someone said about homebrew smelling like that once - you don't think some honey has got wet and fermented do you?

Grenwich

Joined: 20 Jan 2008
Posts: 151
Location: Leicestershire

Posted: Mon Jun 23, 08 12:09 pm Post subject:

Mrs Fiddlesticks wrote:

thinking back to something someone said about homebrew smelling like that once - you don't think some honey has got wet and fermented do you?

Hi Mrs. F. I don't think they got wet. The hive is intact with the top weighted with a brick, and sloping slightly down towards the entrance so windblown rain shouldn't be problem. Its just that, because theyre not doing so well, I want to combine them with a swarm I nabbed but won't do so if the smell indicates a disease. I'm going to give it a go anyway thisafternoon & see what happens.

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