Post by rjoki on Jul 31, 2011 22:23:33 GMT -7
Boy I got a suprise when I decided to dig into my hives today to see if I could find a few more fully capped frames to pull (which I did). The bees were really agressive and protective and went after me like crazy the second I opened the top of the hive. I don't use smoke or sugar water as I stay fully suited and have usually been ignored by most of the bees.
Today it was nearly a swarm. Must have had a couple of hundred bees that were determined to run me off. I got a few stings through the suit cause I was nice and sweaty. I'm going to think about adding some starch - lol -- I do wear a second shirt under my bee shirt, but if you have enough bees on you trying to find a place that the shirt is stuck to the skin, they are going to get you anyway.
I also had the first chance to witness how when one bee gets a stinger into you, the other bees get the attach order, and jump onto the exact same place. After the first sting, I couldn't keep the bees off that exact spot. I putted the besuit away from my skin so that spot was not longer a viable target, but they still flocked there and tried and tried and tried. I did get three stings just inside the elbow, so when it swells tomorrow, it will be a nice reminder.
My guess is that as this has been a slow year, that the bees also know that they are behind in the schedule, so they are extra agressive in protecting what stores they already have capped from other bees, and from big Bears like me in funny spacesuits.
Next week I think I'll remember to have a sprayer of simple sugar handy and give them a squirt or two before I steal anymore honey from them.
Today it was nearly a swarm. Must have had a couple of hundred bees that were determined to run me off. I got a few stings through the suit cause I was nice and sweaty. I'm going to think about adding some starch - lol -- I do wear a second shirt under my bee shirt, but if you have enough bees on you trying to find a place that the shirt is stuck to the skin, they are going to get you anyway.
I also had the first chance to witness how when one bee gets a stinger into you, the other bees get the attach order, and jump onto the exact same place. After the first sting, I couldn't keep the bees off that exact spot. I putted the besuit away from my skin so that spot was not longer a viable target, but they still flocked there and tried and tried and tried. I did get three stings just inside the elbow, so when it swells tomorrow, it will be a nice reminder.
My guess is that as this has been a slow year, that the bees also know that they are behind in the schedule, so they are extra agressive in protecting what stores they already have capped from other bees, and from big Bears like me in funny spacesuits.
Next week I think I'll remember to have a sprayer of simple sugar handy and give them a squirt or two before I steal anymore honey from them.