Not so smart...

Lunawriter · June 01, 2010, 03:53:44 PM

Soooo, I'm very new at this. VERY. I made myself a top bar hive, read some posts here and elsewhere. Watched some videos on swarm collecting and put my name on several lists for swarms. Well, today I got a call that there was a swarm less than a mile from me. I felt all confident--cocky even. I got my box and went over to get them. They were low and perfectly postioned on a little whippy tree. I shook them into the box and the majority fell right in. Those that didn't, however, chased me down and stung the bejeebus out of me. I think I have at least 10 bee stings. I tried to go back there again a few minutes later and got chased down when I was still 15-20 ft away!

I don't own a veil yet or a suit, or a smoker, or um anything. The whole "the bees are very docile while swarming" thing had me confident that I could capture and transfer them and then order a suit while they were settling into their new home. No need to spend money if I don't actually manage to capture a swarm, right? Wrong apparently.

I called a local beekeeper I've only spoken with on the phone and he went over there with me (what a guy!) He'd never captured a swarm that way, but both of us could tell the queen was in the box since most of the rest of the swarm had moved down into it. We set the lid gently on top leaving a gap for stragglers and I'm planning to go back and pick them up this evening at dusk since he said that would be a good time.

I'd really rather not get stung again Would it calm them to have sugar water waiting in the hive when they arrive? Anything else I can do to make it more homey and calm them? I'd love to avoid being stung again for their sake and mine. anyone know of a good place to order reasonably priced bee supplies that ships fast? :) Any other advice? I know they're just angry because they've been there for a few days already and through a downpour yesterday. Also, the neighbor told me the owner of the house hit them with a baseball bat to try to get them to leave. :? So that couldn't have helped much.

I just want to get them settled in with as few casualties as possible!

Kathyp · June 01, 2010, 04:02:46 PM

most of the time, swarms are pretty docile. this year i have gotten the snot stung out of me more than once. i think the weather was the culprit. + the longer they are there, it seems the testier they get. yes, sugar spray can help. so can some bait scent in your box. something like a drop of lemongrass oil.

if you are going to do swarms, etc. get a jacket with zip hood and gloves. several places have less expensive jackets. i got mine from Mann Lake. do a google search.

welcome to beekeeping!! :-D

Lunawriter · June 01, 2010, 04:41:07 PM

Thanks, Kathy! I'm glad I'm not the only one ticking "docile" bees off! Thanks for the advice and the welcome. :)

L Daxon · June 04, 2010, 11:14:09 PM

I got my first two swarms at the end of May. Didn't get stung but i had a bee jacket with attached veil. The lemongrass oil I think would have been a good idea but if you don't have it, try Lemon Pledge. The 1st swarm I got, I didn't use the Pledge. I had heard the trick but forgot it. The second time I sprayed a cardboard box I used with the Lemon Pledge. Before I even reached up to get the swarm, I looked down into the box (had to use a ladder) and bees were already going into the box. After I got home and dumped the bees into my hive, I left the cardboard box in the backyard and bees were still flying around it, resting inside for at least 2 days. That did not happen with the box I used on the first swarm. So I think the Pledge is a good attractant if you don't have the lemongrass oil handy.

JP · June 04, 2010, 11:28:25 PM

What I do before I shake a swarm is observe them some. Do they look jittery? Kinda nervous like. Good candidates for sugar water, as they could be hungry. Hungry bees are not always friendly.

I like to place my hand up near them to see how they respond, even touch them some.

I know most of my videos lately show me without protection and scooping handfulls of bees into catch boxes, but rest assured, I do what I can to check their behavior before diving in.

Ask anyone nearby if the swarm has been bothered in some way, water hose, rocks, spray, and as you found out a baseball bat (that's a new one to my ears).

Sorry you got stung, but glad it had a happy ending.

...JP

bull · June 05, 2010, 01:15:58 AM

I'm sure sorry you got stung , but i love it when people try. the tricks will come and so will the confidence.
i Carie a swarm box ,veil, sugar water sprayer, in the truck all season .
great job of getting in there , good luck Bull

Michael Bush · June 05, 2010, 06:52:17 AM

"Most of the time" isn't very comforting when you got the "some of the time" effect...

JP · June 05, 2010, 06:57:35 AM

Quote from: Michael Bush on June 05, 2010, 06:52:17 AM
"Most of the time" isn't very comforting when you got the "some of the time" effect...

I just might have to use that line some time Michael. ;)

...JP

Lunawriter · June 06, 2010, 09:38:19 PM

Thanks for all of the responses. I posted more about my experiences in the "top bar hives" forum. It didn't go exactly smoothly, but I figure if I can keep the "bug" through that, it's here to stay. ;)

I can't wait to post pics of myself in my gear for closing up the hive after I dumped them in. I was wearing a rain coat with the drawstring pulled tight around my face, ski goggles, ski gloves, a baseball cap, and a head lamp. Good stuff. When I get home from my vacation that just might become my forum profile pic. :-D

annette · June 07, 2010, 01:47:30 PM

Can't wait to see the photos, sounds like fun.

Rebel Rose Apiary · June 09, 2010, 03:30:59 PM

The only thing that I can say is the if you are going to work with bees, expect to get stung.....

My father can jinx me faster than a cat on a mouse....all he has to do is to say that I will get stung and sure enough it happens....of couse he thinks that anyone who messes around with bees is funny in the head in the first place...but he loves it when I bring him fresh honey!

Welcome to the addiction....remember, that bee hives are like cats and potato chips....you cannot stop at just one!

Have fun and stay safe! I agree, get one of those 'fencing veil' type of jackets.....I have two from Dadant that I keep behind the seat of my Dodge truck at ALL TIMES. I also keep some of the cardboard nucs (they are all folded up when you get them and fit behind the truck seat or in a tool box) so I can be ready if I see a swarm or get a call. Duct tape does wonders for keeping those bees on the ground from climbing up a pant leg too.

I drove through the drive through window at the bank the other day and there was some people standing around a mini van....a swarm had settled on the rear bumper of the van while she was in the bank! Never miss a chance on getting a swarm! THey seemed shocked when I had everything in the truck and got those bees in such a short time. Either way, all were happy when it was over.

Brenda

Robo · June 09, 2010, 05:42:32 PM

You can go to Walmart and buy a mosquito net in the camping sections for a few bucks that will work in a pinch until you can get a real bee veil.

greenbtree · June 11, 2010, 01:27:34 PM

I second Robo. If you have a military surplus store near you they can carry the mosquito nets really cheap. I think they are a little more durable too. Mine has elastic at top and bottom - there is a hole at both ends, if you have a hat with a brim you just pull it over that. I have a couple of them even though I have a bee veil, for friends who might want to watch when I am working the bees. If you wear sweats over your regular clothing I find that it protects the rest of me quite well. It's hot, but worth the lack of stings I tuck the legs into knee high rubber boots and don't even need to duck tape my ankles. DON'T FORGET TO TUCK IN YOUR SHIRT! If your wrist cuffs are loose, duck tape or rubber band those too. I find the beekeepers gloves too bulky so I wear long cuffed leather work gloves (Rose pruning gloves work great) If they have fabric backs they will sting you right through the fabric, get ones with all leather for at least the hand part. I suspect a determined bee could sting through the lighter leather, but so far it has not happened to me.

JC

Robo · June 11, 2010, 02:36:46 PM

If you aren't comfortable going bare handed, Nitrite examination gloves work quite well. The aren't stingproof, but you have to work hard (pinch a bee) to get stung through them, but they aren't big and bulky either and you still have good control with them.

Lunawriter · June 15, 2010, 12:57:56 PM

Thanks again for your replies! Robo, I'm trying to picture "pinching a bee" lengthwise so as to pinch the stinger. Can you even do that? ;) I think I will try the nitrile since I can try a few my husband has already.

I'm extremely sad that I haven't gotten the hat, veil and smoker I ordered while on vacation. Not even a shipping confirmation yet. :( I guess I might have to make a special trip to Walmart since I don't have a surplus store nearby. I can't believe how much is out of stock and unavailable beekeeping-wise at the moment. I chose the wrong time to try to purchase equipment that's for sure. And the weather has been so rainy I really want to get out there and check on them/feed them if neccessary. Wish me luck on my supplies arriving soon...

zopi · June 15, 2010, 01:07:58 PM

Heh-heh..owtch!

Don't feel too bad..I learned the hard way with a colony of bumbles I was trying to aggravate into moving elsewhere..stubborn critters, bumbles...one of 'em nailed me right between the eyes...

Robo · June 15, 2010, 01:20:31 PM

Quote from: Lunawriter on June 15, 2010, 12:57:56 PM
Thanks again for your replies! Robo, I'm trying to picture "pinching a bee" lengthwise so as to pinch the stinger. Can you even do that? ;)

You don't have to pinch them lengthwise. Just get them pinched between your hand/finger and a frame and they will get you.

Robo · June 15, 2010, 01:21:56 PM

Quote from: zopi on June 15, 2010, 01:07:58 PM
Heh-heh..owtch!

Don't feel too bad..I learned the hard way with a colony of bumbles I was trying to aggravate into moving elsewhere..stubborn critters, bumbles...one of 'em nailed me right between the eyes...

Ah bumblebees, that's how I learned Nitrite gloves aren't sting proof :shock: They sure do hurt more than a honeybee too...

Lunawriter · June 15, 2010, 01:30:08 PM

Zopi, I disturbed a bumblebee nest that was started in a cardboard box in my compost. They did some dive-bombs at my head but didn't sting me. Sounds like I was even luckier than I thought!

Ah, Robo, that makes sense. Sounds a little more difficult to avoid than just pinching them lengthwise--I could probably manage the latter. I'll just have to remember to take my wedding ring off when I work the bees!

zopi · June 15, 2010, 04:46:27 PM

Quote from: Lunawriter on June 15, 2010, 01:30:08 PM
Zopi, I disturbed a bumblebee nest that was started in a cardboard box in my compost. They did some dive-bombs at my head but didn't sting me. Sounds like I was even luckier than I thought!

Well in all fairness, I was trying to aggravate them into moving elsewhere without destroying the colony...so they had every right to be torqued off...the one that got me just flew a little farther than I expected...