First Removal Of 2011-February 15- Part One

JP · February 16, 2011, 08:17:43 AM

First off, cause I know y'all be asking :-D, Schawee is busy all week and couldn't be my assistant on this one but my good buddy Emil was my wingman today and he is a fine wingman to have folks.

This will be part one and later today I will be bringing you part two.

Always can anticipate potential curveballs on buildings with a brick exterior and this one was no exception. This hive was rockin' folks, a very good many bees, capped worker and drone brood, some honey reserves from this past season and what appears to be fresh nectar in some new comb as well. Not sure where they're getting it but it was very light and very sweet.

Found queen cups but no cells but they were obviously gearing towards a reproductive swarm.

We pulled out 99.9% of the comb and vacuumed a good 2-3lbs of bees and added them to a two deep stacked nuc set up.

This morning I am going back to hopefully find our majesty amidst what bees remain.

The main curve ball is that we had bees between the brick and the blackboard but also between the brick and the window header, in fact that is where I believe our majesty to have wound up. No one would want to remove bricks or take apart a window header to try to get queenie so they have been given time to revert back to where the comb sections were attached and hopefully I get her today.

Of course there is a possibility she is in the nuc set up but I don't think so.

Here is part one and thanks for watching!

...JP

First Removal Of 2011

Tommyt · February 16, 2011, 08:54:08 AM

And the 2011 Season Starts

Wooooooo Hooooooooooooooooooooo

Thanks
Tommyt

iddee · February 16, 2011, 09:16:47 AM

Poor JP, he's been influenced too much by that idiot up in NC. He's already shed the gloves and jacket. Picking up bees by the handful. Bringing the home owner up to the hive. Etc.

When it gets hot this summer and the bees start getting in his sleeves and stinging, watch for him to shed his shirt, too. :-D

Good job, except for not blocking her escape at the top by removing a foot of comb first off.

AllenF · February 16, 2011, 09:27:58 AM

Thanks for starting the season JP. Love the video as always.

vmmartin · February 16, 2011, 10:18:47 AM

And so it begins.

Irwin · February 16, 2011, 11:53:23 AM

Did Emil take a hit to the face his left eye area looked a little puffy ? Thank's for the video.

KD4MOJ · February 16, 2011, 12:53:48 PM

Look like a bee got buried in his long hair and took a nip!

...DOUG
KD4MOJ

skflyfish · February 16, 2011, 05:51:22 PM

Thx JP!

hardwood · February 16, 2011, 05:58:22 PM

Good job Bro! I hope you get that slippery ol' queen. We've done two removals in the last two weeks but I'm waiting on SWARMS!!!

Scott

wadehump · February 16, 2011, 08:52:12 PM

THANK GOD I NEEDED THAT :-D

Countryboy · February 16, 2011, 10:15:28 PM

When it gets hot this summer and the bees start getting in his sleeves and stinging, watch for him to shed his shirt, too.

For that very reason, I am finding that I really like those t-shirts with an elastic band on the sleeve. I hate having them fly up my sleeve and then getting pinched and stinging me in the armpit - that's more sensitive than folks might realize.

iddee · February 16, 2011, 10:21:47 PM

That's why I shed the shirt on many cutouts. I can feel them on my skin and not mash them.

Dave360 · February 16, 2011, 10:38:50 PM

Great Video still can't believe no veil
guess i'm to chicken or we have tougher bees in Texas

Thanks for sharing

Dave

JP · February 17, 2011, 01:35:28 AM

Fell asleep making part two, promise to get it done tomorrow.

It was quite the adventure folks!

One juicy detail: Emil (aka monkey man) climbed out onto a tree limb 20' up to get the queen!

We are very happy this one is over and done with!

That's all for now!

...Jp

TwoHoneys · February 17, 2011, 06:52:47 AM

Watching this video this morning makes me so happy! I'm glad to see my friends again, and glad to see the drone cells and the capped brood and swarm cells and the honey. Glad glad glad. Glad to watch the bee season as it work its way north.

Thanks, JP.

-Liz

David McLeod · February 17, 2011, 08:17:44 AM

I'm so glad to see the 2011 season off to a good start. JP, please consider a compilation of your videos. We so much need this information available to teach and train others. There should never again need to be a reason to kill bees in those situations not when you have demonstrated so ably that removal can be done without the fear and risks to the general public many think there is.

D Coates · February 17, 2011, 01:52:17 PM

Thanks! I needed the pick me up.

JP · February 17, 2011, 08:37:46 PM

Thanks everybody! You makin' me blush! It was fun but a lot of work!

...JP

lenape13 · February 18, 2011, 12:40:55 AM

Man, I wish I was there to join in the fun. Can't wait to get into some myself this spring. Another great job!