..but in a few cases they can be lethal if you are severely allergic. Also, the African strain if honey bees are much more aggressive and will attack and sting many times which can be fatal. So be careful! These are wild bees which housed themselves in some abandoned old hives which have also got some birds nesting in them. We usually keep our distance and don’t try to take any honey, just appreciate having them around. Beekeeping can be very rewarding, but takes a lot of time, and when you have been stung often enough, can become a little frightening. I have no plans to start bee keeping again! Interestingly, the fictionaldetective Sherlock Holmes took to beekeeping on the Sussex downs after his feigned death at the Reichenbach falls. It was as we read in ‘The Return of Sherlock Holmes’ a challenge equal to his great intellect!
Video Rating: 5 / 5
Native New Zealand bees are a alot more docile naturally, without breeding. At the moment they are being threatened by aggressive introduced species
I used to keep a few hives. One evening after a few to many shandys I decided that it would be a good idea to visit my hives. I had no protective clothing, but with dutch courage, and under the light of a full moon, opened up a hive, took out a frame or two and suddenly realized my mistake!
The next morning I counted over 70 stings on my hands, face and neck!
Not my best idea!
Very glad our friend Stephen Hayes is recovering nicely. An approach that works well, in my experience, is a mud poultice, especially if not near conventional treatments. After the material is applied liberally to the sting site, allow it to dry. I used this approach when a friend of mine stumbled into a nest of ground hornets. The only sting that was visible the next day was one too near his eye to allow the application of the mud.
The voice of experience, always good to hear. Glad to see your still with us. Thanks for this follow up.
I raised bees for yrs but found that i was getting more and more sensitive to them when I was stung.Finally had to give it up.
I miss them
WOW! Thank God I am not affected much by Bee stings. I think your guess about the disappearance of the Honey Bees is as good as any that I have heard..
We handle those stings with grapes (when in season).
Looks angry, hope it eases off ASAP.
I am toying with the idea of building a top bar hive (info at the biobees site) and sticking it at the top of the garden.
Wet tobacco soaks up some of the poison.