OK so I've read multiple times that bees are grumpy when its rainy, so you shouldn't work them in the rain.
But my cousin and I thought "how bad can it be?".
We had one task to do - put an escape board under the top supers on three hives and pull out the spacer that props up the lid (lazy man's upper entrance). Had to be done today while there was a break in the rain so we can extract on Sunday when the weather clears.
We got to the first hive, my cousin lifts the lid slightly, and angry bees start pouring out of the hive. We decide to continue quickly and lift the super and put in the escape board. He starts getting stung through his socks on his ankles, we're both covered in bees stinging our suits and gloves and trying to crawl in any crease or fold. I'm amazed how aggressive they were compared to normal. Not that that stopped us from putting the excluders on the other two hives. The second hive wasn't so bad, the third one was insane with angry bees (we actually had to lift three supers on that hive, and the handle fell off the bottom super as we were lifting it- apparently I'm cutting too many corners with some of my woodenware). It took us 15 minutes of running through thick pine trees and brushing bees off eachother to get enough off that we were ready to climb back in the truck and get out of there.
Apparently I needed to learn by experience...bees do get grumpy when its rainy.
Not only are they grumpy, but ALL of them are home and bored and just picking for a fight! Much like my kids... :roll:
No smoke? shortcuts often aren't the best way! ;)