What can I do with killer bees?

Question

It doesn't look like killer bees are good for crafting a bee box out of them. They don't turn neutral either, so I wonder how I could put captured killer bees to use without getting killed in the process.

Answer 1

There are a couple of ways to deal with killer bees without losing significant health and still getting the resources that come from killing them:

First, the easiest way to defeat Killer Bees is to use a Bug Net. Using the net will turn the Bee into an item in your inventory. Killer Bees caught this way can't be used to make bee mines or bee boxes. What you can do is murder it without removing it from your inventory. The way to do this is to mouse over it. You will see the "Murder" command pop up once you do so. Click the right mouse button and it will kill the bee without removing it from your inventory. This will result in a crafting material like a stinger or honey sitting in the place where it used to be in your inventory. This way, you can use the bee for certain crafting recipes.

Second, you could craft a bee catchers helmet. When wearing it, you will take minimal damage from killer bees so even if they manage to hit you a couple of times before you kill it, it wouldn't be a serious blow to your health. Once it dies it will drop a crafting object that can be used in recipes.

Answer 2

Killer bees can be put inside Chester, who can then be treacherously left to die among your enemies. The agonizing rage of killer bees will surely vanquish the unsuspecting attackers creating loot with a side bonus of some stingers and, possibly, honey from dead killer bees. The remaining bees can be recaptured. Chester will reappear unharmed after a day, ready to be left for dead yet again.

Or you can simply drop the killer bees on the ground in the middle of your enemies. Bees will take a quick nap, long enough for you to get away, and then wake up to seek prey.

It's much more useful and fun than just killing killer bees yourself.

Answer 3

According to this post from a dev, in the Reign of Giants expansion, killer bees can be used for crafting during some parts of the year provided you have encountered them in the wild and not caused them to spawn from a hive.

Following is a copy of his response:

I think the problem is that killer bees are not valid for beeboxes or bee mines (I think, haven't checked in a while) and the bumblebees now look identical

Yeah, this is definitely something we considered. Ultimately, we decided that we preferred the slight inconsistency of a red Spring bee turning into a yellow bee when you catch it to not having this mechanic at all.

2) Can we use the red spring bees as bee ingredients for boxes and mines? That was actually what prompted me to check here; I was all psyched up to make a bee box when spring came, and all I saw were red bees. As I said above, red spring bees will revert to normal yellow bees when you catch them. So, yes, you can use them in those recipes.

As for telling them apart (i.e. for knowing that a bee you're trying to catch is valid for a recipe), the rule that actual killer bees won't spawn unless you start attacking the bees/beehives is still in place. So, if you happen upon a bee in the world and you haven't attacked any bees or beehives, that's a normal bee for crafting purposes, regardless of its color.

I think the problem is that killer bees are not valid for beeboxes or bee mines (I think, haven't checked in a while) and the bumblebees now look identical Yeah, this is definitely something we considered. Ultimately, we decided that we preferred the slight inconsistency of a red Spring bee turning into a yellow bee when you catch it to not having this mechanic at all.

On 3/13/2014 at 2:21 PM, Zalyn said: 2) Can we use the red spring bees as bee ingredients for boxes and mines? That was actually what prompted me to check here; I was all psyched up to make a bee box when spring came, and all I saw were red bees.

As I said above, red spring bees will revert to normal yellow bees when you catch them. So, yes, you can use them in those recipes.

As for telling them apart (i.e. for knowing that a bee you're trying to catch is valid for a recipe), the rule that actual killer bees won't spawn unless you start attacking the bees/beehives is still in place. So, if you happen upon a bee in the world and you haven't attacked any bees or beehives, that's a normal bee for crafting purposes, regardless of its color.