Besides the delicious honey, honey bees are known for defending their colonies zealously. They will treat any intruder with their painful stings. The foragers spend the whole day collecting food resources while the house bees proceed to make honey and store it in the honeycombs. The guard bees are always at the entrance, ensuring the colony is safe. Disturbing a hive during the day without any protective gear can turn out to be fatal. 

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What happens if you disturb a beehive at night?

Nearly all bee species are inactive at night. However,  they will sting whenever they want and  usually fly toward any form of light. Disruptions will cause them to come out of the hive to deal with an intruder. Their aggression levels are also high at night, probably because of critters and predators who prey on them when it is dark They are always devoted to defending their hive, even at the wee hours of the night. This is also the case if you bump into a swarm of bees at night. You will get stung by the hundreds of them since they always go into attack mode if they sense danger. 

Is it possible to harvest honey at night? 

Most beekeepers with Africanized bee stocks prefer to harvest honey at night. Due to their super-aggressive nature. They find them more manageable and calmer at night. African bees usually attack at the slightest provocation.  Beekeepers harvesting at night usually use red lights. These provide enough light for them but bees cannot see the red hue. It appears dark to them. At this time you need to have a good source of light and an extra hand to help you with operations. It is easy to crush the bees as you manipulate the frames and supers. 

What are the precautions to take when opening a hive at night?

• Ensure you put on your protective gear with sealed-off joints. 
• Use a bee smoker to keep them docile
• Remain as calm as possible when handling them
• Use a red-tinted flashlight in the hive since they don’t perceive the red color. They will get attracted to any other source of light. When you use lanterns or hive torches, bees are attracted to the light and get burned to death. 
• Avoid bright clothing and perfume with floral scents

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What do honey bees do at night?

Honey bees rest at night. They also require some rest, just like humans after working all day. If they don’t rest well, they may be sloppy and less productive during the day. They will not also be able to coordinate and communicate effectively. It will also be challenging to navigate well and find their way back to the hive after foraging. Resting help them to have an excellent memory to remember where to get food resources. Unless it is necessary, beekeepers should avoid disturbing bees at night.