Bee's

[Sackett2]

All sorts of safety is covered here, but something I forgot about were bee's. While driving my tractor, i think about loads, tilt, pto blackberry vines- all things associated with operation of the rig, but today I was reminded of bees.
No, no stings, didn't even bother the nest.
The son and I were feeding brush into two fires all afternoon, just cleaning up the summers mess. All done, parked the tractor in the front yard (doesn't everybody?) and looked across the dry slew, at a tree. Damm, that looks like a paper nest. So we walked down to it and looked-Bald faced hornets nest, under the size of a basket ball, still active. Now the tree is just losing leaves, most the tree still covered but this low hanging branch is almost bare. Wouldn't have been 3 months ago when I was hogging with my new tractor right next to it! The ROP would have thumped it nicely if I had seen the need to shortcut under the tree.
I'll be looking up a bit more from now on, as if I didn't have enough things to be paranoid about.
Y'all be careful
Steve

 

[Shmudda]

Steve,

There is a difference between wasps and bees, what you saw there were wasps. Bee's are the honey bee variety, and the difference is when they sting. A wasp can sting multiple times and never leave a stinger embedded in you, where a honey bee can only sting once and can leave a stinger and 1/2 of its hind end attached to you at that same time. Of course the honey bee then dies after this last blast of glory.

As for the Bald Face Hornet nest you encountered, I got nailed by one of those this past spring picking Black Raspberries, and it was like a hot pin going into my hand. WOW that really hurt. Well, after that I took a flare to the nest that night and got my revenge! Felt good too.....

Anyways, bee careful around them thar things as they will get ya!!

Craig

 

[Matt_Jr]

Sounds like time for target practice. Have your son, yourself, and a few buddies over for a 12 guage vs wasp nest party. Remember, all fire at once.

 

[BigD23]

Suggestion, wait till the dead freezing cold of winter, then torch it.

Don

 

[Sackett2]

yea, thats my plan. I'm not scared of it, just lucky my rop didn't ring it like a bell

 

[DougM]

Wait untill after the winter set in then clip the branch above it and SAVE the nest Then spay it with clear varnish Then hang it in ur front room for decoration.

 

[em14]

It's my understanding that Hornets only use their nest one season ... anyone know if that is true? I'm not too worried about Bee's unless I'm breaking ground and happen disturb Mr. Bumble Bee … he can and will put hurt on you! There are a number of different “stinging” insects that we need to beware of!
Leo

 

[Sackett2]

Wait untill after the winter set in then clip the branch above it and SAVE the nest Then spay it with clear varnish Then hang it in ur front room for decoration.

We were doing that once, going to play a joke on a buddy, never followed through. Even though I live in a cabin, not to fond of having a bee's nest inside. A primal fear thing? Its interesting, but not my kind of art.

BFH (baldfaced hornets) only use the nest once.

 

[HarryVanderpool]

O.K. folks.
These are Bees:

Hornets and wasps are what you are talking about. They are really a pain to deal with.

Bees? Bees are wonderful to have around.

 

[Shmudda]

It's my understanding that Hornets only use their nest one season ... anyone know if that is true? I'm not too worried about Bee's unless I'm breaking ground and happen disturb Mr. Bumble Bee he can and will put hurt on you! There are a number of different 都tinging insects that we need to beware of!
Leo

I can tell you for a FACT that wasp nest will harbor a few dozen of those Bald Faced Hornets over the winter. Now, how do I know that, well when I was in 5th grade I clipped a big nest, took it to school for show and tell during a oral report and out they came as soon as they warmed up! Needless to say the teacher wasn't real happy with me and we had to all leave the room so they could be squashed by the maintenance men. I had fun thougth, and remember it like it was yesterday.

And, (honey) bees are good.....wasps need killed and serve no real purpose other then to sting a human!

Craig

 

[Shmudda]

BFH (baldfaced hornets) only use the nest once.[/QUOTE]

This isnt so....read the above post......I have first hand experience on this one!.......Craig

 

[Sackett2]

BFH (baldfaced hornets) only use the nest once.

This isnt so....read the above post......I have first hand experience on this one!.......Craig[/QUOTE]

then I will stand corrected; only got that from the internet, and another reason I don't want a nest (Even shellacked) hanging in the house.

 

[Rara Avis]

Bees are your friend...

 

[sunspot]

HarryVanderpool

Very nice looking apiary you have there. You must be located in the north using those double brood boxes.

 

[Runner]

".....wasps need killed and serve no real purpose other then to sting a human!"

Well, they do eat spiders, at least.

 

[HarryVanderpool]

HarryVanderpool

Very nice looking apiary you have there. You must be located in the north using those double brood boxes.

Salem Oregon.
Yeah, they need enough feed for about 100 days before they start their new year in almonds in California.
Thanks for the nice words!
Harry

 

[groundcover]

ROPS into the hive, bad day indeed ! Might be a bigger reason to have a cab than the heat and ac. Reminds me of the day years ago that I was mowing at my Grandmothers and picked up the birdhouse that had fallen off the tree, laid it on the hood of the Bolens to bring it back to the house,seems the bees wanted to come out and see what all the noise was about! I left the tractor right there and outran most of the bees,tractor ran out of gas in a few hours. Went back after dark and got the tractor,left the birdhouse though.