View Full Version : Lesson Learned Hard Way
prscotty
09-25-2008, 08:49 PM
This is my first year keeping bees. Have 3 hives now and have been feeling pretty good about myself checking supers without gloves or long sleeves.
Today I checked supers on 2 different hives without any trouble. The 2nd is the one I posted about on here last week having a lot of brood in the super that I was going to leave for winter.
All the brood had hatched with the exception of just a few still emerging bees. So, I thought I would remove the super and look into the brood box. It was packed really tight and when I pulled the end rack out I rolled a bunch of bees out and man did they work on me. Got several stings on both hands and arms.
Not feeling to proud of myself now. Ouch!
Tom G. Laury
09-25-2008, 09:04 PM
It's GOOD FOR YOU!
Isn't good medicine always a little bitter?
prscotty
09-25-2008, 09:15 PM
Tom, I guess you are right. Anyway I may have set a new record for putting a hive back together!
Oh, I don't know about that. I had a hive that was already pretty mean. I set out to find and pinch the queen.
I suited up for max protection and I tore the whole hive open. I had the two boxes separated, one on the ground that I had already gone through and was going through the lower box when a freak sunshower went by.
Once my suit was wet they can sting right through it. I got stung like 25 times in the 30 seconds it took me to reassemble that hive.
Looking back it was really funny, but it sure hurt that day. Video would have been awesome.
Go ahead, feel proud, you didn't give up the hobby did ya?
Reminds me of the time or 2 that I've dropped a deep frame full of bees while inspecting it. :doh: Last time it happened, I was wearing my straw hat and wrap-around safety glasses with reading glasses over those. :) My girls showed mercy and didn't even one of them sting me, it was my lucky day! :D It pretty near caused my first heart attack tho!!! :p
BeekeeperBill
09-26-2008, 05:37 AM
Early this spring, it was hot. In my truck I had my old head gear. Figured I'd grab the new one..so walking back, I unzipped my suit for some fresh air. Well, after putting on the new hat and zipping it on, I forgot to zip the suit back up. Uh OH :scratch:
After getting into a couple brood chambers, I sensed that the buzzing was closer to my ears than it had ever been...and there were BEES INSIDE WITH ME!!! :doh: Well, the headgear came off pretty fast and I made a break away from the bees....WOW! :cry: Only got stung a few times in neck and ears (lobes). I will never forget the feeling at the very instant I realized what had happened. :no:
ScadsOBees
09-26-2008, 07:12 AM
Only got stung a few times in neck and ears (lobes).
Ah...so you really were a redneck!!:D
dragonfly
09-26-2008, 09:25 AM
Anyway I may have set a new record for putting a hive back together!
:D :D
I may have to compete with you. I've been working a temperamental hive for 6 years now. I'm getting pretty fast.;)
MapMan
09-26-2008, 10:56 AM
:D :D
I may have to compete with you. I've been working a temperamental hive for 6 years now. I'm getting pretty fast.;)
Maybe we should get it to be an Olympic sport.:D
MM
dragonfly
09-26-2008, 11:02 AM
Maybe we should get it to be an Olympic sport.:D
MM
Count me in.:) I'll make you guys proud.
Eaglerock
09-26-2008, 11:16 AM
Not sure who I would wanta back, MapMan or Dragonfly... have you two faced off yet? Who BEE the better beeman? :scratch:
Who ever is the better BeeMan, please raise your hive tool.
Southern Bee
09-26-2008, 12:37 PM
I suited up the other day, was all sealed and tied, and went out to start working my hives. Every so often I would here a buzz that didnt sound quite right, it was really angry, more so than the other bees, but I didnt see anything out of the ordinary. I had been working about 45 min when I heard it again, closer to my ear than it should have been, thought maybe it was on the screen of my veil. I turned my head to look and this black thing landed on my eye glasses:eek: Luckily I was in between hives because I FLEW (and I mean flew) away as fast as I could, untying my veil as I went. There was a big ole black wasp in there with me, inches from my face! My hat/veil had been sitting near a window in my garage, apparently the wasp had been in there when I put it on! :doh: All that time in my veil with me and it never stung me! Whew, I was lucky that day!
dragonfly
09-26-2008, 03:08 PM
Not sure who I would wanta back, MapMan or Dragonfly... have you two faced off yet? Who BEE the better beeman? :scratch:
Who ever is the better BeeMan, please raise your hive tool.
I'd be embarrassed to raise my hivetool right now 'cause it's covered with propolis that I have neglected to clean off.;)