Dropping a branch swarm

[NWIN Beekeeper]

Sometimes even simple branch swarm removals aren't so simple.
Following a night of thunder storms, I figured a damp swarm would be easy to box.
That was until my dew dampened shoes slipped on the ladder, knocking the swarm loose.
In haste to do this before leaving town, I did it without a smoker or veil.

Dallas and I joked that 75 to 100 stings that I took were probably all the guard bees, as retrieving them later (and caging the queen) the same afternoon with a veil and smoker was the usual breeze.

I've seen bee beards, but I had a rare "bee-mullet" down the back of my neck.

It's moments like this that flash into my mind and make me laugh when I have a person swatting at a single bee buzzing around their head like its one single stinger is going to 'pop' their head and kill them.

Just for the record, I did calmly walk away until I was concealed behind my vehicle, then I brushed off the bees and began pulling stingers out of every inch of my neck and scalp for the duration of the hour's drive.

[JP]

 NWIN: "Just for the record, I did calmly walk away until I was concealed behind my vehicle, then I brushed off the bees and began pulling stingers out of every inch of my neck and scalp for the duration of the hour's drive."

With 75-100 stings I would have had to have run like a sissy, arms flailing, calling out for my Momma with my noonie in my mouth. BTW, always good to have a clean noonie along in situations such as this! :-D


...JP

[Michael Bush]

I was only dumb enough to do it without a veil once.  The fell down the back of my shirt...

[MollySuesHoney]

Well, let's see:

Yesterday I had a swarm about 24 feet up out on the skinny end of a Live Oak.  Shook it loose with a throw line twice, bumped them with my head and knocked them loose once (thank God for folks on the lower end of the ladder who can stabilize it when the first puff of wind all day comes along and the limb is A LOT more flexible than normal you suddenly realise), lopped of the branch and the swarm hit the ground once, then finally after about and hour and a half I got positioned right, slowly lopped through the new branch, carried in down, shook them into a body, and the ladies went marching right in.  I've been around this my entire life.  It's never the same twice.

Thank God I put on that veil for the kids sake ( I always wear one when children may be watching ).  I'd have one buggered up face this morning if I hadn't.

[Gware]

I would have to say I would run as well.

[budhanes]

I always wear my gear. Never know when something can go wrong. I've shaken many and if I wouldn't have had my coveralls on, I would have at least got a pound of bees down my shirt once. Not worth the chance.

[Ross]

I suit up, without exception.

[Cindi]

Jeff, nice little story, hee, hee.  Now that be alot of bee stings, did you get pictures, hee, hee....Bee stings to the areas above the shoulders are not nice.  I bet you had some severe swelling occur, next time, remember, no matter what, wear that veil!!!  Take that few extra moments in time.

I had a swarm fall on my face once, my second year of beekeeping.  It was not a huge swarm, thank my lucky stars.  It was at my Cousin's place and I wanted to show off, (I have been humbled in my days) that I could hive a swarm with no veil.  I had not hived a swarm before, but I had heard that they were docile and mostly didn't sting.  I didn't realize what might have happened if things didn't go exactly as according to the book.

My Husband cut the branch, I was not as strong as I thought I was.  The bunch of bees fell of the branch because I could not hold the branch, I remember the bees falling down over my head onto the ground. 

What I remember most about this was, and I will never forget this feeling.....was when a fair number of the bees grabbed onto my face with their hind tarsi and held on for dear life as their stinger was everted!!!  Oh man, yep, creepy crawly, those little feet sure can grab on tight!!!  Beautiful day, loving and living our great lives we all share.  Cindi

[johnnybigfish]

I didnt see the option I use.....In a situation like this I try the old method of Standing perfectly still and hoping that the bees dont see me standing there (You know, the rattlesnake method :) ) Then, when I realize(again) that this method is the stupidest thing I've ever done in this situation, THATS my cue to run!...So I RUN!.....And after the bees stop chasing me, I start all over again!

your friend,
john

[Cindi]

Oh this is funnnnneeee.  So many times I read that these big ol' tough men, cry like little girls when you get stung and run like the dickens when trying to get away from the bees, such pictures are set up in my mind's eye, come on you little babies!!!!!   :-P :lol: :lol: :shock: :-D :-X ;) :) :) :)  What more can I say, have that beautiful day, get tough you guys, and love our life.  Cindi

[Scadsobees]

Run screaming like a girl, but that is only to warn the others in the area of the danger.  :-D

[JP]

Oh this is funnnnneeee.  So many times I read that these big ol' tough men, cry like little girls when you get stung and run like the dickens when trying to get away from the bees, such pictures are set up in my mind's eye, come on you little babies!!!!!   :-P :lol: :lol: :shock: :-D :-X ;) :) :) :)  What more can I say, have that beautiful day, get tough you guys, and love our life.  Cindi

Cindi, this is for you, check this poor soul out!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8HYZXg0UQs


...JP

[Brian D. Bray]

Sometimes even simple branch swarm removals aren't so simple.
Following a night of thunder storms, I figured a damp swarm would be easy to box.
That was until my dew dampened shoes slipped on the ladder, knocking the swarm loose.
In haste to do this before leaving town, I did it without a smoker or veil.

Dallas and I joked that 75 to 100 stings that I took were probably all the guard bees, as retrieving them later (and caging the queen) the same afternoon with a veil and smoker was the usual breeze.

I've seen bee beards, but I had a rare "bee-mullet" down the back of my neck.

It's moments like this that flash into my mind and make me laugh when I have a person swatting at a single bee buzzing around their head like its one single stinger is going to 'pop' their head and kill them.

Just for the record, I did calmly walk away until I was concealed behind my vehicle, then I brushed off the bees and began pulling stingers out of every inch of my neck and scalp for the duration of the hour's drive.

The hard part is keeping a smile on your face for the audience that has gathered.  I did it a few times, put the hive on my should and shook the branch to dislodge the swarm. They hive okay, but it's better to use a drop cloth and let it rain bees.

[Cindi]

JP, oooooh, that was funnnneeeeeeee!!!  Beauty, wonderful day and best of this life to ya!!  Cindi