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Africanized bees are no joke.

I watched a show on them once and they tend to go after dark areas like eyes, ears...etc. Also your breath can trigger them.

But that's the extent of what I know about them.
 
Lot's of mis information. African honey bees are just honey bees that have not had their wildness bred out of them like European honey bees. They are more aggressive as that's what keeps their honey and hive safe in Africa. They sting you and they die. My dad kept bees from the late 70s until he died in 99. From 1980 to 1983 we lived in Africa and he had bees there too, African bees. After we got back from Africa he went back to work as a timber faller and said he ran into wild honey bees falling that were just as mean and looked just like African bees, he couldn't tell the difference and this was back in the 80s long before Africanized bees were a concern here. And a lot of depends on a hives temperament, even European bees, some hives you can work with no suit or veil in good weather while others you better be fully suited.
 
Roktoy829 said:



You're doing it all wrong!

It's a matter of time before this girl gets in trouble.
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I had bees in the floor of a shed like this, Mine was packed with gear so no way to pull up the floor, so I drilled a 1" hole and set off a bug bomb fogger into the floor, came back 24 hrs later and all gone.

Well probably not all gone, but all dead.
 
The ones that I ran across were kind of a darker color, faster, wayyy faster, more pissed off and aggressive. Grandpa did bees for years, dad had some at one point, even when I was little dad and I done some bees. But these were on a whole different level . Got stung and another came and checked me out and left, shortly he shows back up with a bunch more (kinda African like?) and boy they were pissed. Had to run a long way off to get away from them. Came back a couple days later and they picked up where they left off. Their hive was like a hundred yards away. Normal bees don’t mess with you if you don’t mess with them, not these guys.
 
Trashman said:
This time of year we get several bee calls a week. They get into the water meter boxes.

I have done many over the years, in a suit with no issues. Spray, remove the combs and call it a day.

Today, I found what I believe to be an Africanized colony.

Usually the hives don't get pissed off until you start to remove the meter box lid. Then a bunch attack as predicted. No biggie.

I didn't get to within 4' of the meter box today and got swarmed. They were all over the suit. Bad enough I likely couldn't close my hands without killing 10 at a time.

I sprayed the closed lid openings with some spray, then they started hitting me through the suit (through my flex-fit hat I was wearing under it, so I called it and left.

They followed me down the easement a few houses, out to the street, down the street and into a cul-de-sac.

It was wild. Generally they only follow me approx 50'.
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This is a dope post, super interesting.

Question-- why doesn't the suit stop all the stings?
 
Bonanza said:
This is a dope post, super interesting.

Question-- why doesn't the suit stop all the stings?
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If the suit gets pressed up tight against your body, they still can get you.

We got new "better" suits due to our old ones neck veils would sometimes lay on the back of your neck/head and we had someone get multiple stings. Sent him to the hospital.

Mine today, apparently the head got tight against the top of my forehead. They got me through the face mask net, and through my had I was wearing backwards (to keep it off the back of my head/neck)

If I wear a full brim hardhat, then sometimes it touches my chin during motions.

If you watch the video about the "worst bees" posted, you can hear him tell his partner the wind blows the mask against their face at times which could cause stings.

Normal hives, this isn't such an issue as their are less attacks. African hives, they are all over you constantly.

Regular hives I may have one or two on a hand trying to attack, today's African hive I struggled picking up a can of bee spray without crushing them in the glove (which sometimes causes stings too) There were I am guessing 20x more bees attacking.
 
IMG_9623.gif
 
SomeGuyFromOlympia said:
those things look miserable to wear
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It actually isn't too bad with the venting. The suit itself is multiple layers of mesh, airflow is fantastic.

The hood however never seems to be in the right spot ever. The large seams always seem to be blocking where you need to see.
 
Trashman said:
This time of year we get several bee calls a week. They get into the water meter boxes.

I have done many over the years, in a suit with no issues. Spray, remove the combs and call it a day.

Today, I found what I believe to be an Africanized colony.

Usually the hives don't get pissed off until you start to remove the meter box lid. Then a bunch attack as predicted. No biggie.

I didn't get to within 4' of the meter box today and got swarmed. They were all over the suit. Bad enough I likely couldn't close my hands without killing 10 at a time.

I sprayed the closed lid openings with some spray, then they started hitting me through the suit (through my flex-fit hat I was wearing under it, so I called it and left.

They followed me down the easement a few houses, out to the street, down the street and into a cul-de-sac.

It was wild. Generally they only follow me approx 50'.
Click to expand...
Find a local bee club. See if they have volunteers that will come relocate bees. Many will if they have the time. I am sure many have some sort of a group text thread. Get on that give a location and be there when they are removed. #perfectword
 
Trashman said:
It actually isn't too bad with the venting. The suit itself is multiple layers of mesh, airflow is fantastic.

The hood however never seems to be in the right spot ever. The large seams always seem to be blocking where you need to see.
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Is it breezy around there? Assuming yes. Because in the heat with no breeze the vented ones feel about the same as the cloth ones.
 
Thefishguy77 said:
Have you looked to see if there are any bee clubs in the area? I bet you could find a few retired dudes that keep bees and will be able to relocate hives. Or is it against company policy?
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I believe the front office folks may have looked into it. I haven't been on this side of the project long though, I was on the wastewater side, where we didn't deal with them.

I have thought about buying a suit and relocating them myself. I did that one time with a swarm in my yard by wearing multiple pairs of jeans, and wearing 2 sweatshirts 😅

It worked though.

I really don't like just outright killing them.
 
Trashman said:
I believe the front office folks may have looked into it. I haven't been on this side of the project long though, I was on the wastewater side, where we didn't deal with them.

I have thought about buying a suit and relocating them myself. I did that one time with a swarm in my yard by wearing multiple pairs of jeans, and wearing 2 sweatshirts 😅

It worked though.

I really don't like just outright killing them.
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Find a bee club and join them to learn. Get some boxes and frames and send it. You will be selling honey to IBB in a few years. :grinpimp:
 
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