New Beekeeper Discovers 'Gentle Hive' Description In Catalog Was Aspirational

A first-time beekeeper in Wisconsin has discovered that the "exceptionally gentle temperament" advertised in his package bee catalog was, in his words, "more of a mission statement than a product description." Dennis Stinger ordered a three-pound package of Italian honey bees from a supplier whose catalog described the strain as "gentle, productive, and ideal for beginners." The bees arrived on a Tuesday and were installed according to instructions Dennis had studied for six weeks. "The video I watched made it look like pouring a bag of friendly confetti," Dennis recalled. "What happened was more like releasing a bag of angry confetti that can follow you." Dennis received eleven stings during the installation process, which the catalog's FAQ section describes as "a bonding experience." His protective equipment, purchased from the same supplier, was described in the catalog as "professional grade" but performed in practice as what Dennis calls "decorative." "The veil had a gap near the left ear that I didn't notice until a bee noticed it," he explained. "We made eye contact. It did not go well for me." Despite the traumatic introduction, Dennis reports that the colony has since settled and now displays behavior he would characterize as "tolerant" rather than "gentle." He has not returned to the hive without full protective equipment, including a second veil worn over the first. The supplier's next catalog will reportedly amend the description to "gentle by bee standards, which are different from human standards."