Bees in your bonnet... or in your grill?

[masraum]

This is interesting...

Actually from 2008, but I couldn't find it posted so...

[masraum]

Barbecue beehive ‘bomber’ comes forward… « …art…music…thoughts…coffee…
So, the bee story continues… The guy called himself Joshua Horton (22) came forward in attempt to clear up his name. “I don’t think people fully understand what actually happened…” – he says…

The mystery man who outraged many readers by destroying a beehive that had taken over his barbecue has been found.

Perth man Joshua Horton contacted ninemsn in response to dozens of angry comments, in some of which he was labelled “ignorant” and “cruel”.

“I don’t think people fully understand what actually happened,” Mr Horton, 22, said.

“We really had no idea how many insects were under there.

“It wasn’t making much noise at all — I thought there was maybe 20 bees or a little paper wasp’s nest under there.”

In pictures that quickly circulated via email, Horton documented himself taping a cockroach bomb to a garden rake before pushing it underneath a barbecue cover last Wednesday.

When he returned minutes later, over 1000 dead bees littered the scene — and eight large combs of honey were left hanging from the barbecue’s wooden shelf.

The mechanical designer says the barbecue was last left unused for less than two months, and he was amazed that the huge hive had been built in such a small space of time.

“I couldn’t believe the sound coming from under there when I put the can underneath,” Mr Horton said.

“I know people are upset, but I guarantee that if we had known the size of the beehive we would have called the professionals in to remove them.”

Horton says he was intent on cleaning the barbecue because he needed it for a charity sausage sizzle last weekend.

[legion]

Bee's rights!

Bee's rights!

[UconnTim97]

Save the bees!

[Targa Me]

don't kill the Bee's!!!! call the bee guy to come out and get them.

[vash]

wow that is amazing.

i bet the bees would have left by simply removing the cover.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by vash

wow that is amazing.

i bet the bees would have BEEN REALLY PISSED AND OUT FOR BLOOD by simply removing the cover.

I fixed it for you.

Yeah, they probably would have left after they lost their home.

I think the main thing is that the kid just didn't know what he was dealing with.

[gtc]

... and the honey is a loss after using the pesticide on it...

[Joeaksa]

As one who has been around swarms like this, I will let YOU remove the cover while I stay INSIDE the house and watch, with the door bolted SHUT.

[JavaBrewer]

Wow. I can die from one bee sting w/o a ER visit so that looks damn scary.

[MRM]

Those were honey bees. Honey bees are extremely mild and mild mannered. They are not wasps. They are not yellow jackets. He could have removed the cover without any gear on at all, stuck his hand inside and taken the combs without getting stung. BTDT. People have to be very alergic to have much of a reaction from a honey bee.

It is a great waste that he killed an entire productive hive. They had to have been there for a long time to have been there for a long time to have created that much honeycomb. They had to have swarmed from some other hive, had time to locate there, and build up that much honeycomb before they got killed. A great tragedy for an animal that is so useful and needed now so greatly. Someone would have paid HIM to take the bees away.

[pavulon]

I can understand what happened....but MRM is correct.

[Moses]

I would have relocated the hive without disturbing the bees or the comb. Love honey bees.

[Joeaksa]

Now we know the three people to call to move bees in the future.

Last year had them on my front porch, cost was $450 to get them killed. They were the Africanized version. I was in the Middle East working when it happened.

Three years ago they decided that they needed to populate my back yard porch. Friend of mine was staying at the house while I was in Moscow working. They took after him and chased him into the house, with 10-15 of them getting inside with him. He got hit 8-10 times and the cat took the rest of the stings. Neither of them were real happy but he did not have to go to the hospital over it. This episode only cost $175 to get them taken out of the house.

I know where you guys are coming from and feel the same most of the time. That said these are not calm honey bees most of the time in our area, they are the Africanized versions that hunt you down and sting you. We are not in the Northern part of America, we are on the front lines of the tame honey bee takeover in this country. We need bees, but we do not need these Africanized versions of them.

[Paul K]

Originally Posted by MRM

Those were honey bees. Honey bees are extremely mild and mild mannered. They are not wasps. They are not yellow jackets. He could have removed the cover without any gear on at all, stuck his hand inside and taken the combs without getting stung. BTDT. People have to be very alergic to have much of a reaction from a honey bee.

It is a great waste that he killed an entire productive hive. They had to have been there for a long time to have been there for a long time to have created that much honeycomb. They had to have swarmed from some other hive, had time to locate there, and build up that much honeycomb before they got killed. A great tragedy for an animal that is so useful and needed now so greatly. Someone would have paid HIM to take the bees away.

Hate to say it, but +2. Those photos are kinda sad, really.

[cstreit]

I would have walked out onto the deck in my underwear with my eyes covered in bee phermone and removed the beehive by hand and moved the hive into my bedroom with a window open. Then I'd plant flowers in the room so they wouldn't have to go outdoors.

[Tishabet]

This thread reminds me of this one. It took some other Pelicans to identify my "hornets" as honey bees, I was ready to begin waging war. Now I just let them bee (har har!)

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Tishabet

This thread reminds me of this one. It took some other Pelicans to identify my "hornets" as honey bees, I was ready to begin waging war. Now I just let them bee (har har!)

So they are still in your house?

[Tishabet]

Originally Posted by masraum

So they are still in your house?

Yep, for the time being. Apparently April is the real decision time as that's when it is best to eradicate them due to the honey stock being lowest. I've got to say though, they haven't been a problem at all... if it weren't for my visions of them taking over my walls I think I would just let them stay indefinitely.

[vash]

i am scared chitless of things that fly AND sting. i once stood on a rock, that rocked (tetter tottered?)..just rocking back and forth...till the yellow jackets came out. i was like carl lewis running..i got hit, but not stung..i was a chinese blur.

i would have not killed those honey bees. i would have stayed way away, and called a pro. even one bee buzzing around, i am smart enough to know that there may be a possible hive under there. and i can ID a honey bee.

africanized bee? where was the bbq grill? AZ? too cold where i am from. africanized? let me get my running shoes.