Apiaries and Bee-attacks

You know those killer heels that you love but they absolutely tear your feet up? If you wear them infrequently enough, you will surely put them on again with that it-really-wasnt-that-painful-last-time mindset........and as soon as you are far enough away from your closet to turn back......you are suddenly-and painfully-aware of why you swore to never wear them again.

Well, so it went with my experience with the infamous Afrian killer bees. I have been away long enough to forget your merciless ferocity.......but you did not let me forget for long.

(Notice the ignorant bliss of confidence before disaster strikes.......)

I went out with my dear friend, Thomas, to check on his bees, and possibly try to harvest. He insisted we do it at night, as it was just too dangerous to do it in the daytime (you might think that would have raised my level of alarm, but alas-it did not). We got out to his apiary at dusk. After getting the smoker lit, we wrestled into our full body bee suits, which always make me feel like an astronaut, and usually elicit my imitation of slow-motion moon running :) The bee suits were generously donated my Bailey's Bee Supply in Hillsborough, NC. The owner, David Bailey, has been a great source of helpful advice, both for my sweet American bees, and the fiesty demon bees of this land. David-if you are reading this, I cannot fully express my gratitude for having such a well-made suit between my skin and those little beasts.

We inspected the apiary-Thomas has 10 hives that are in pretty good shape. We walked around and looked at the condition of the hives, all the while the bees were quiet and calm-appearing......just biding their time. We approached the hive that should have been ready to harvest. Thomas lifted the lid and smoked them. There was a little bit of comb built on the lid, so he didn't remove it all the way to we could scrape the comb off......and the next thing I know the bees were all over us like flies on stink.

(Inspecting the apiary.......)

( 10 seconds after lifting the lid......)

Thomas said they were a little too aggressive at the moment and we shouldn't harvest in case they wanted to attack us. I hate to be contrary Thomas......BUT I THINK WE ARE ALREADY THERE. 

 I had on thick leather elbow-high gloves, and the bees couldn't sting through it.....but they were certainly trying. When a bee is trying to sting you, they do a little vibration thing with their abdomen that feels like a little buzz. My gloves were so covered with bees trying to sting me that it felt like someone was holding a tuning fork on my wrist. I repeated the phrase my dad taught me in my head, "I trust my suit......I trust my suit......I trust my suit......." That was until the bees found a little fold that buckled around the wrist because the gloves were so thick, and they launched a full blown invasion. It was then I lost all fondness for them. Instead of trying to somewhat gently brush them off, we just ripped off tree branches and started hitting each other with them to squash them(something I would never do to my sweet ladies here).

Don't let the smile fool you.......my knees are still wobbly....

We got in the house and crawled out of our space suits. And yes-I am wearing my raincoat underneath. Thomas insisted I needed every layer I brought for protection......turns out he was right. As the adrenaline rush wears off, I am left wobbly kneed, and drenched in fear sweat (raincoats don't breath much), and very thankful I didn't need my epi-pen.

I have not decided yet if the experience was worth the risk. I certainly must give Thomas props for doing this all the time. Beekeepers are crazy. Either way, I made it home safe and slept like a baby.

Until the next adventure......

Jessie

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