Worldwide Beekeeping
Beekeeping => Beekeeping 101 => Topic started by: J-grow on August 10, 2016, 05:06:12 pm
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I thought this 101 factoid could be helpful to new people. I thought it was a fluke but in reading other threads I have heard similar stories.
I had a bee follow me about 100 feet from the hive after I had closed it back up ...... It hat been smashing into my veil the whole time I was working and had the high rpm motocross buzz going on.
I kept smoking her and walking away and she would retreat to the hive and when I would get half way back she would meet back up with me and start carrying on again
So as I said after I closed the hive she followed me about 100 feet to a privacy fence gate that I have to go through to leave. She would not leave me alone I kept smoking her and even went in the corner of the fence to confuse her ......... After a few minutes she left
I normally take off my gear at the gate because when I go through it I'm in a parking lot with cars going by and I don't want everyone to see me. This time though I went out in full gear because I had a sneaky feeling that bee was going to make me pay.
I walked another 50 feet to the truck and took of my gear and smerked at the fact that I had one ....... Got in my truck and left.
Down the road a ways I realized I left my cell phone by the gate! No biggie I will just pull into the parking lot reach out the door and grab it ...........
You know the rest right? Screaming ....... Swatting ........ Cussing ........ Fiery neck pain
They will follow you sometimes
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LOL
OK, when a bee follows you that far, hold up both hands, shoulder width apart, palms facing inward... when the bee buzzes at your face, you bring your hands together swiftly making a POP sound as they come together.. with luck, the bee was between your hands as they came together!!!
i also usually have a can of either for doing either rolls... you can grab it from the truck, and give the bee a quick PUFF and voila, No more issues!
Alternately, if you cant CLAP her to death, or give her a puff of either, stand calmly and wait for her to land, and sting, at which point you KNOW EXACTLY where she is, and will be momentarily trapped by her stinger as she starts to pull it out, and you can then dispatch her and scrape out stinger...
The aforementioned practiced, should be performed calmly, reluctantly, and with a bemused expression on your face... this will confuse and or AWE anyone watching you, and render the inevitable LAUGHTER and reenactments null and void, thus saving you embarrassment and deflation of EGO from the swatting, screaming, dancing or running.... Honestly.. those re enactments are a PAIN... I KNOW my scream did not sound that GIRLY!!!!!
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Agreed ...... The squeals sound unnatural. The image I have portrayed for my lifetime and people know me by erased and replaced by one parking lot security cam video and youtube
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LOL!!!! TRUE!!!!
My wife STILL re enacts that.... moment.... that I decided to wear Shorts while just PEEKING in ONE hive... The thing about re enactments, is that over time they become more and more exaggerated........... >:(
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i also usually have a can of either for doing either rolls... you can grab it from the truck, and give the bee a quick PUFF and voila, No more issues!
I'm imagining "No more issues!" when I accidently spray my face instead of the bee.
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz :bee:
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Several weeks ago, I had members of a queenless hive, follow me all the way to the car. The car was a considerable distance from the hive and on the other side of a house. I ended up getting in the car fully suited. I moved the car about 15 ft. before they would leave me alone. I still had a stubborn hitchhiker that I had to let out down the road.
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Some of my hives are Bweaver bees. A hundred feet is a short distance. When I make a deep inspection, I have to get in the Gator and drive at least 200 yards to get away from the bees. At a hundred feet, with one bee still with you, it is considered very domestic to me. My other hives are Rweaver Buckfast bees, and they won't be with you more than 30 or so feet.
When I get in the car with bees still around me, I have found that if you lower all the windows and drive slow, (20 -30 mph) the bees will fly out the windows in a half-mile or so. Also, walking through low hanging trees limbs or brush or walking very close to a building wall will greatly diminish the bee numbers. Sometimes it will send all of them away.
lazy
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You know the rest right? Screaming ....... Swatting ........ Cussing ........ Fiery neck pain
Hahaha! That is so funny and very true. But really... That is one valuable guard bee there :D
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My first year, she chased me through the garage, into the house and down into the basement. I learned then and there how persistent they can bee! Great story!
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The few bees that I have brought into the house, usually while extracting, always seem to leave everyone alone and move to the nearest window.
lazy
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Lazy that is a bee in a different stage of life. Coming in with a honey super she is like a easy going free spirited teenager. They have a few chores but haven't had to take life more seriously and has the added responsibility of caring for the welfare of others.
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@apis:
Gee, you really do everything about bees. I never realized the nurse bees were so much more demure. But, it make sense.
lazy
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And then there are times you have to drive home with your veil on, but i don't think they mean me harm? i'm thinking the little darlings are keeping me from getting sleepy on the drive home. 8) Jack
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Why did I just picture you riding a moped through town with your veil on?
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Naw, wasn't me :no: your probably thinking of perry or Scott. :yes: Jack
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Naw, not a moped, its a 250 yamaha on/off road bike legal for road use.. Hive tool in pocket, smoker strapped on the back!! :yes: