Large Scale Central

Bees!

General Discussion
#1

Last April we had a big swarm of bees on the tree in our front yard. Today I went out back to spray weeds on the layout, and discovered bees flying in and out of the old doghouse we have on the patio. A few months ago I had boarded it up to keep the raccoons out, but there was a small gap and that’s where the bees had gotten in.

Anyway, I called the guy who safely removed the swarm last year, and he was able to get here in about five minutes. Turns out the bees I saw were scouts. He said there must be a swarm somewhere nearby, and these scouts were looking for a permanent home for the hive. He said I was lucky – the fact that it was late in the day and there were so many scouts, meant they were probably very close to moving the whole swarm in.

So he sprayed some repellent into the doghouse and then sealed the gap with screen. Then I had him spray all the tunnels on my layout so they wouldn’t move into one of them instead.

I really need to get rid of that old doghouse one of these days, but it’s supporting the gate to the layout which people use as a handrail going up and down the stairs. So first I have to get someone to build some permanent stairs with real handrails.

#2

I had one of those a few years ago in a bush in the side yard.

It was only there about a day or two, then it was gone.

#3

Had swarms come on the marina property twice in 25 years, once on a boat and once on a utility pole. Both times found bee keepers that were very interested in taking the swarm to a hive. Contacted the Sheriff’s Department and the Corps of Engineers to find the keeper We used caution tape to keep people away and watched with fascination. The keepers came at dusk or early morning to move bees at the cooler time of the day. Both times, happened during the week so the presents of people was minor. No clue if they would have stayed away if more people and activity were around where they landed.

#4

I am glad to see people aware of the need to protect them. Honey bees are so vital to . . . well jut about everything. Their decline is alarming and they should be protected. With the problem with africanized bees and them dang yellow jacket wasps its a no wonder people have a negative reaction. But the good old honey bee is something to be treasured. So thanks Ray, Ken, and Ric for not just taking the easy way and kill them.

#5

Our city council (read idiots) passed an ordinance that prohibits keeping honey bees within the city limits. We were forced to move our hive at the wrong time of year, and the hive perished.

#6

Ben Hancock said:

Our city council (read idiots) passed an ordinance that prohibits keeping honey bees within the city limits. We were forced to move our hive at the wrong time of year, and the hive perished.

That’s about the dumbest thing I have heard. Many places now are encouraging it. As a courtesy I would run it by adjoining neighbors first before getting one to make sure no one is deathly allergic but really honey bees are pretty tame critters and they do so much good that it does not make any sense to outlaw them. We have yet to start our hive but I want to. They are amazing creatures. Someone near us has one and on anygiven day when our raspberries are in bloom I bet we have 200 bees at a time in our yard. To prove to my daughter how tame they are I would let them crawl on my hands. Don’t trap them or move fast and they won’t sting you.

#7

I read somewhere that the critter that we commonly call a bee is not a bee at all, but is a cousin of the house fly. Who knew?

#8

must be a very distant cousin…

#9

OK then whats a bee, not that I am doubting you but I know like yellow jackets are not bees they are wasps but what makes a bee a bee if not a honey bee?

#10

Steve Featherkile said:

I read somewhere that the critter that we commonly call a bee is not a bee at all, but is a cousin of the house fly. Who knew?

Possibly 2nd cousins in disguise after a few drinks at a TCA sponsored Rio Grande railfan convention?

#11

These must be gay lesbian (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)drones because only females go nectar collecting.

#12

       

#13

Joe Zullo said:

These must be gay lesbian (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)drones because only females go nectar collecting.

LGB minus the T?

#14

Yep. (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

#15

Devon, I am not an expert on what bees are honey bees, and what the little things that invaded my porch and stung the heck out of my hand are. I had never been allergic before, but after 3 stings in my hand, it swelled up like a balloon and hurt like heck. They stung me once in the other hand too, but it didn’t swell up. They looked like bees to me, and I decimated them. I am not usually a violent person, but to be attacked for simply watching my trains run, and drinking a glass of iced tea on MY porch, really torqued me off!

Edit for this antique laptop’s odd behavior.

#16

Our neighbor Ted and us have been sharing a roving bee ‘blob’, very much like Ken’s picture for at least 2 years now. The ‘bee blob’ will move between various trees and we think we have their home identified. We’ve been giving them their space. We’re usually out there trimming and come within feet of them with no bother.

Jane,

in the back 40 on the Bluestone Southern

#17

As an active beekeeper, I will second Devon’s statement that the honey bee is critical for the pollination of many of our food crops. Please do not kill them. The swarms you see are generally a result of either the bees are not happy with their current hive(home) or the swarm has left a larger colony due to too many bees for the current space. Swarming is natural. My son and I caught a swarm from one of our older hives a couple of weeks ago. Put them in a new hive several miles from the mother hive. Now one hive has turned into two with no expense on my part except a few minutes of my time.

Did you know that honey will never go bad?

#18

Bees are alot better than Yellow Jackets, we had a burrow of YJs in our front yard, took about a month to find a solution which was spreading boric acid powder over the hive entry.

#19

David,

I am allergic to honey bees as well. And I can understand your frustration at “beeing” stung and get miffed. If you did not provoke them and they were aggressive they likely were not honey bees. If they were smooth and not fuzzy they weren’t honey bees. If they were fuzzy and had attitude they may have been Africanized bees (killer bees) but you live a little far north for that. Or you stumbled on a colony and inadvertently peeved them off.

Now I don’t normally tell people what to do but in this case if you run into this again and they are small fuzzy bees resist the urge to kill them and call in an expert. If they are real honey bees then there are people ready and willing to help you with your problem and save the bees. If they are yellow jackets kill away. Swat a few for me.

#20

Guys I am not much of an environmentalist, tree hugger, or animal rights activist but honey bees are hugely important for the production of crops not to mention just about every plant on the planet.

And for some reason they are not doing well and for no reason they abandon there hives and die. So be good to our bees.