Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => HONEYBEE REMOVAL => Topic started by: gardeningfireman on July 18, 2012, 10:28:57 pm

Title: Cutout Disaster
Post by: gardeningfireman on July 18, 2012, 10:28:57 pm
Did a cutout from a wall and soffet today. Huge number of bees, and VERY aggressive. I took at least 20 stings! Well anyway, after everything was done and closed up, I packed up the van. The beevac cover was off so they would get ventilation from the full screen top, and I went in to get my check. Well, the homeowner started talking, and it slipped my mind that the bees were in the van. The whole colony died. I am really disgusted with myself over this. I know better than to do that, but I was tired, hot, STINKY, and dehydrated. The brood comb was in a different box, and I hope it is okay. I put it in a different hive. Do you think the bee God will forgive me for this tragedy?
Title: Re: Cutout Disaster
Post by: Kathyp on July 18, 2012, 10:40:33 pm
i think it falls under the SH category and i bet it won't happen again!  i don't know about you, but i don't track as well as i get older....
Title: Re: Cutout Disaster
Post by: AllenF on July 18, 2012, 10:42:13 pm
School of hard knocks.   Just how long were the bees in the van?
Title: Re: Cutout Disaster
Post by: gardeningfireman on July 18, 2012, 10:45:12 pm
About 20 minutes. On the way home I had all the windows open and the fan on to try to cool them down, but it was too late.
Title: Re: Cutout Disaster
Post by: JackM on July 19, 2012, 09:47:21 am
i don't know about you, but i don't track as well as i get older....

That is for sure!
Title: Re: Cutout Disaster
Post by: JP on July 19, 2012, 09:54:20 am
I'm just curious, did you place them in your vehicle before dark?


...JP
Title: Re: Cutout Disaster
Post by: Javin on July 19, 2012, 11:25:46 am
Maybe this has something to do with your problem?
http://news.discovery.com/human/walking-rooms-forget-111123.html (http://news.discovery.com/human/walking-rooms-forget-111123.html)
 :-D
Title: Re: Cutout Disaster
Post by: gardeningfireman on July 19, 2012, 04:23:25 pm
JP- it was about 5:00. I know I should have waited until I was actually ready to pull out of the driveway before putting the bees in the van. It was a true "stupid moment".
Javin- that must have been the reason!
Title: Re: Cutout Disaster
Post by: G3farms on July 19, 2012, 08:28:37 pm
When it is really hot as it is now, spritzing with water from a spray bottle or even just shaking a little water on top of them will help matter out. I tell everybody that when the bees go into the truck I have to be on the road immediately.

Sorry to hear of the bad luck, and SH for sure!

The brood seems like it can take some heat but you never really know for sure.