My most unsettling experience exposed my sister, a niece and myself to the wrath of a ill tempered nuc. At the mercy of others for suitable transportation to move the nuc, one can't complain too loudly if they show up to help a little late in the day. When we finally got the nuc to their new home, it was mid morning and they were most unhappy. My sister and I were fully suited up, my poor niece only had on layers of clothing. When I sprung a corner of the #8 hardware cloth they came boiling out looking for blood. They went for my face (thank goodness for a good bee suit), my sister (thank goodness for another good bee suit) and my niece. I looked up to see my beautiful niece running across the yard, all arms and legs, long braided hair flying in the wind, and stripping as she ran. On the top, she got down to her underware before she reached a spot where they had quit chasing her. It seems a couple of bees had gotten down her shirt. She had 3 stings, but no significant reaction. I had been popped on the same ear 3 times and looked like a boxer, and my sister got stung on the same ankle 4 times. My sister had a pretty severe reaction, missed work, and gave her bee suit to my niece, thus ending her bee wrangling days.
We could have waited until later to spring the #8 hardware cloth, but being stubborn and wanting to get the job done without a second trip out to this location, I released them while still mad.
My poor niece had just recovered from running over a yellow jackets nest with the lawn mower only to be nailed again. Her husband was less than sympathetic. I went out and purchased boots and a head band to pull down over my ears to wear while working bees.
