I had bees last year that died over the winter because I put up a wind surround (I live in the mouth of a canyon) that kept them in the shade too much. I loved them to death. I worked them allll the time with no protection. If I was really going to be pulling a lot of frames or doing major things I would wear a hood. No problems at all. It was wonderful.
This year I got two packages because I LOVE having bees. I am not afraid, the honey is wonderful and they make me feel good.
We installed our first (four pound) package with no problems mid-April. We installed our second package with no problems. I was not in protective gear because that was how I did it last year and things were fine.
After the packages were installed and we were standing apart from the hive about 10 feet away. There were quite a few girls flying around after installing both packages but things were fairly mellow. Then BANG! there was a bee IN MY NOSE. I had a few bees landing here and there through the process but I wasn't ever bothered by them but then I got stung in my nose. It was maddening.
The next time was about 10 days later. We were checking on the hives and again, I didn't wear gear because they didn't really have much to protect and even though it was a 10 frame, medium box, they hadn't had much time to get protective.
I checked the first hive to make sure the queen was released and things were good (it had been wicked cold) closed it up no problem. Pulled the second hive and checked it and it was fine. Closed it up and they started getting a little hot. I put the hive back together and started walking away and BOOM, back in the nose. No problems with any looky loo's around my face, just a straight shot to the nose. Bizarre.
Today I was working my friend's hives. He is out of the country and I am checking on his hives. He has about nine hives so I wore my hood and my husband was with me wearing a jacket with full hood. The first four hives were okay. We smoked them, confirmed larvae on two of the new hives, added a box and frames to the other new hive.
The problem started on the fourth hive we opened. It was already five boxes and he was worried it was going to swarm while he was out of town so he wanted a box added. We opened the hive and the bees were not overly thick in the boxes but they were just NOT friendly bees. We had the additional box ready to add but before we could get it on there a bee got inside my hood and WENT STRAIGHT FOR MY NOSE. My husband was wearing the zip jacket/hood combo and he was being bombarded but he was safe. I pulled my hood off, snorted out the bee (I am becoming an expert) and we left the hive to cool down while we cooled down too. I was followed by several girls, one got me on my hand and we waited 10 minutes for the hive to settle. We suited back up, put the hive back together with the new box and left.
I have never had a problem before but now there are bees that LOVE MY NOSE.
I don't eat bananas before we work the hives. I brush my teeth, I am showered and clean but not with perfumed body washes (I have sensitive skin)
I have not had this problem the whole last year and I almost never wore gear. Shorts and tshirts were fine.
Now, THEY LOVE MY NOSE.
Why? Should I suck on lemon drops while I work my bees?
I am kind of getting freaked out, which is also not good.
Anyone have a nose thang going on?
Hi there, I am sure you did not mean this post to be funny, but I found myself laughing. I never heard anything like this with the nose situation.There are many beekeepers here who do not wear any protection and they get stung occasionally, so I will let them chime in, but I smoke my bees and I wear protective gear all the time. You do have that option of protecting yourself.
I know from reading the posts on this forum that the nose sting is one of the worst stings you can get, so you have been through a lot. Don't suck on lemon drops, that will only attract more bees to you. (the lemon smell attracts bees because it smells like the queen pheromone)
Lets hear from others.
Good luck with the bees and don't worry. Soon they will be stinging you in other places as well.
Annette
I have had a bee in my nose. It was not a pleasant experience and it did not end well for my nose or the bee. Wear a veil...
I have had a bee fly up my nose and sting me. Probably one of the worst stings I have had because I had to stick tweezers up my nose to remove the stinger. My dog has also gotten one or two up his nose. However, these are rare situations. I am getting comfortable at not wearing gloves but I cannot go without my veil!
Occasionally I'll pop a top to take a peek with out smoke or suited up, haven't been stung - yet each time at some point I'm reminded they're needed when opening a hive. I see others do it but I haven't had any I felt comfortable enough to wear shorts and a t-shirt to check in on. I consider what I have gentle. Anything else I do around them doesn't do a thing to alarm, it's always when opened.
You give a new name/feeling to Beek & yours isn't doing too well :shock:
I'm sorry I took it like Annette
How bout trying cotton put some in your Beek
before working them
I remember JP saying he had a bee crawl in his ear
I figured If that could happen
If I was him I would use ear Plugs
But for now I wear a Hood
Good God that had to Hurt
3 times :shock:
Welcome to BeeMaster
Tommyt
Thanks guys. It is funny. I would and have laughed about it, so has my DH and son... It's so strange you have to laugh.
My husband and I have been discussing nose specific gear and right now a mesh nose guard like a bee guard on a nectar feeder is leading the list of ideas. It would be like a clown nose only red mesh. :) Sound like such a great look, don't you think? ;)
I have been wearing a veil but I have to look into getting better head gear or figure out a new securing method.
I know to wear the gear alllll the time now. Trust me, my lesson has been learned! I just wondered if anyone had seen the nose focus before. I have gotten occasional pops and I have always been able to tell myself why I did and it has always been something I did wrong.
This time is actually the least reactive so at least there's that. I must be getting better at keeping them from getting too far in.
Thanks for your thoughts.
Brenda
Well, I worked my friend's bees and my bees on Monday and things were fine.
I wore my veil and I pulled a long sleeve shirt on over it so the veil was tucked inside. I also sucked on cinnamon disc candies in case there is a funky smell to my breath. Ahhh, the sacrifices we make for our bees. :) I have to go in for my annual soon and I am going to mention it to my doctor in case she has heard of something that could be making me smell like bananas.
It was good to see all the bees so mellow, mellow. I am so glad things were more relaxed so I don't have to be stressed over it when I go out there.
If I find out something that made the bees so aggressive I will post about it but for now I am just going to be safe.
Thanks for the help,
Brenda
The most painful sting I have ever had was when a bee flew into my nose and stung me - actually just a few weeks ago! I couldn't get over how badly it hurt. Usually these days when I get stung a short time later (as in minutes) I can't even remember where the sting was - the nose attack lasted for hours and hours, hurting as much as if it had just happened.
http://beekeeperlinda.blogspot.com/2011/04/swarm-catcher-and-worst-sting-ever.html (http://beekeeperlinda.blogspot.com/2011/04/swarm-catcher-and-worst-sting-ever.html)
My sympathies!
Linda, also laughing with your tale
Wow, well at least I am in good company... Michael, Joe, Linda....
Hearing about all these people I respect and admire having issues has me feeling like I wasn't being picked on.. it was just a really bad initiation into a limited access club.
:-D
Brenda
I'm with you Brenda, nose stings are the worst!
...JP
i think you have normal bees now :-D
i know lots of people work without protection, but airway stings have the potential to be dangerous. at least cover your head.....
Peggy took one inside her nose last year just as she was pulling her veil off...dropped her straight to her knees.
Scott
And then...
...JP :lau:
Quote from: SurprisingWoman on May 14, 2011, 12:12:50 AM
Anyone have a nose thang going on?
Once a bee went into my audiory canal. It was there 2 hours. I finished my hive works and I was redy to go to hospital, but then it decided to come out there. I was really afraid if it stings inside the ear.
You lived my nightmare Finski! :shock:
...JP
Take up smoking!
I'm sure dropping a lit cig in your veil and having that light on fire would be only slightly less painful than a sting up the nose :-D
Quote from: Scadsobees on May 19, 2011, 12:07:25 PM
Take up smoking!
I'm sure dropping a lit cig in your veil and having that light on fire would be only slightly less painful than a sting up the nose :-D
I will take stings over cancer and severe facial burns any day!!! :-D
Last year, while giving a man an estimate to remove a colony from an old bulldozer, a bee landed on my cheek and walked across my mustache and up into my nose.
The customers' eyes grew large and he said "Do you know that a bee just crawled up your nose?"
I replied "Of course I know, how could I not know?"
He asked "what are you gonna do about it?"
I said "Well, since I doubt she will find any nectar, pollen or a cavity suitable for building a hive in there, I expect she'll come back out before too long.
A short time later she came out, climbed up to my forehead and flew away.
The gentleman said "Wow! that was amazing" and I said "Just think about how amazed you'd be if she came out the other nostril".
Buz Green
Just think about how amazed you'd be if she came out the other nostril :shock:
thats would make most fall over
Tommyt
Quote from: Buz Green on May 20, 2011, 09:48:07 AM
The customers' eyes grew large and he said "Do you know that a bee just crawled up your nose?"
I replied "Of course I know, how could I not know?"
He asked "what are you gonna do about it?"
Funny! I would have said "Od courde I dnow, how cuud I dot dnow?"!!!
Tastes like Chicken!
I keep only feral hives and they are usually a bit more aggressive than the "store bought" bees I've been around. Maybe because I'm fairly sensitive to stings (swell up a lot even with hand stings) or maybe I'm just a sissy, but having a bee crawling up my nose or into my ear would make me crazy. It is worrisome enough to realize you have bees on the inside of your hood.
I stopped working my hives or even working near them without a veil some time ago. Admittedly, it took several stings to come to that conclusion, especially the time one got in between my glasses (need I say more?).
Normally I accept most stings with some gratitude (I've learned to say thanks each time) as I have progressive DDD and arthritis and 'believe' in the venom's ability to offer relief, (it's one reason I have bees) but not in the face.
thomas
Buz...,
LOL
Do we see a cartoon in the making here!