Thread: Anyone keep bees?

Is there any apiarist out there that can explain this phenomenom?
Last night, around 11 o'clock, i became aware of light tapping sounds on the windows at the front of the house, so from inside the house i turned on the outside light. Initially, there were a few dozen bees flying into the windows, but within seconds the number grew to hundreds/thousands that nearly obscurred the light as they swarmed all over it. Intrigued, i did the same at the rear of the house, and bugger me, hundreds more bees doing the same thing. All the windows were covered in bees, as were the mozzie screens behind the open windows. Then inside the house, our moggie started going apeshit, leaping about and mewwing, so on with the inside lights which revealed a few bees buzzing around which the missus despatched very quickly and efficiently with a feather duster.
After about ten minutes, i turned off all the lights inside and outside and just sat by a window watching the little buggers crawling all over the place, untill i needed a piss. Upon opening the bathroom door and turning on the light, i was greeted with the sight of several hundred static bees all over the walls, so i tippy toed to the bog, did the business (whilst cupping the tackle with both hands to prevent any unneeded attention) and closed the door behind me. The missus despatched a few more bees, and the cat hid under a chair looking very sorry for himself. This morning all the bees are gone.


WTF was that all about?


On a side note, i have encountered this species (very small bees) a couple of times in the past when straying too close to their hives. They are only aggresive within about 10-15 yards, when they will attack and seem only to sting the head, and then retreat once you leave their zone.

It's called swarming.

The colony becomes too large for it's hive. A young queen takes part of the colony with her and goes off to establish her own hive.

They should be harmless at this stage as they engorge themselves with honey before departure. You could put your hand in the middle of the swarm without getting stung in many cases.

Originally Posted by JoeMoer

It's called swarming.

Yup, but i thought the buggers were only active during daylight.

Originally Posted by withnallstoke

On a side note, i have encountered this species (very small bees) a couple of times in the past when straying too close to their hives. They are only aggresive within about 10-15 yards, when they will attack and seem only to sting the head, and then retreat once you leave their zone.

Those Thai bees sure are wimpy little things, aren't they? And the honey is kind of runny.

Originally Posted by withnallstoke

when straying too close to their hives

By this, I think you mean smashing into them with a sickle, no?

Originally Posted by withnallstoke

On a side note, i have encountered this species (very small bees) a couple of times in the past .

If I leave my bathroom light on overnight, normally in the morning there are a few of those in the bathroom - having got through the netting/mesh over the windows. Best way to get rid of them seem to be to turn off the light, then they go towards the light comming through the window. So they seem to be somewhat attracted to light. Never heard that about bees.

They do have the wimpiest little sting ever, does not hurt at all.

Originally Posted by nidhogg

So they seem to be somewhat attracted to light. Never heard that about bees.

Likewise. Found it most peculiar.

Originally Posted by robuzo

Those Thai bees sure are wimpy little things, aren't they?

Originally Posted by nidhogg

They do have the wimpiest little sting ever, does not hurt at all.

Seventeen to the head and neck was a bit uncomfortable though.

Originally Posted by withnallstoke

Originally Posted by robuzo

Those Thai bees sure are wimpy little things, aren't they?

Originally Posted by nidhogg

They do have the wimpiest little sting ever, does not hurt at all.

Seventeen to the head and neck was a bit uncomfortable though.

Yup, can believe that!

I took a course on beekeeping with my cousin as something to do. He did most of the actual "beekeeping" care with the hives, though.

Bees are important, so don't kill them because if they die out then so do we.

The Thai ones are crap though.

I was on a ship that left Brisbane with a huge swarm by the port side pilot ladder.

Now I like bees in general but we had to get rid of them before we arrived in Fiji, because apparently the Ozzie bees would kick shit out of the Fijian ones and take over the country.

So I got some of the Filipino crew decked up in firemans outfits and they attacked the nest with fire hoses while everyone else watched from the safety of the navigational bridge while I directed my troops.

Bit of a damp squib really. After a few days at sea I guess the bees were already half dead due to lack of fresh water. One blast of the fire hose and it was all over.

Still got hassled a bit by the Fiji authorities when they noticed dead bees all over the deck.

Sorry. Thats my only bee story

If, like in the Uk, they ban they veil at work, beekeepers will be furious.

Originally Posted by The Gentleman Scamp

Bees are important, so don't kill them because if they die out then so do we.

As a ratio, it's difficult to argue the toss. Written evidence is sparse on both sides, with the humans just edging it because the bees sure as shit don't write good in their defence. My honey production is very low/ non existant, and so is my interpretation of the waggle dance, hence ending up in Thailand rather than a secluded hive where the males outnumber the wenches by magnituides of ten.

Originally Posted by slimboyfat

Sorry. Thats my only bee story

Shirley you know how many bees make (f)hive?








































A bee a bee and a half bee, a bee a bee and a half.

We used to have 'stingless' bees in Africa - tiny buggers - no bigger than a bluebottle fly - Their honey was bloody lovely though!

Originally Posted by withnallstoke

Originally Posted by The Gentleman Scamp

Bees are important, so don't kill them because if they die out then so do we.

As a ratio, it's difficult to argue the toss. Written evidence is sparse on both sides, with the humans just edging it because the bees sure as shit don't write good in their defence. My honey production is very low/ non existant, and so is my interpretation of the waggle dance, hence ending up in Thailand rather than a secluded hive where the males outnumber the wenches by magnituides of ten.

I'm sending you a green for using the world 'waggle dance' in the context of armageddon. Nice one Withy, gave me a smile.

[quote=withnallstoke;1376744]Is there any apiarist out there that can explain this phenomenom?
Last night, around 11 o'clock, i became aware of light tapping sounds on the windows at the front of the house, so from inside the house i turned on the outside light. Initially, there were a few dozen bees flying into the windows, but within seconds the number grew to hundreds/thousands that nearly obscurred the light as they swarmed all over it. Intrigued, i did the same at the rear of the house, and bugger me, hundreds more bees doing the same thing. All the windows were covered in bees, as were the mozzie screens behind the open windows. Then inside the house, our moggie started going apeshit, leaping about and mewwing, so on with the inside lights which revealed a few bees buzzing around which the missus despatched very quickly and efficiently with a feather duster.
After about ten minutes, i turned off all the lights inside and outside and just sat by a window watching the little buggers crawling all over the place, untill i needed a piss. Upon opening the bathroom door and turning on the light, i was greeted with the sight of several hundred static bees all over the walls, so i tippy toed to the bog, did the business (whilst cupping the tackle with both hands to prevent any unneeded attention) and closed the door behind me. The missus despatched a few more bees, and the cat hid under a chair looking very sorry for himself. This morning all the bees are gone.

had a similar experience in the uk many years ago. had a couple of hives in the garden, one night/evening the wifey fills the bath and applies her various oils ready for the big soak, half an hr later all the bees were at the bathroom window going apeshit, now if you get a robbery going on they do get very excited so i put it down to something in the oil, behaved exactly as if there was a honey spill. so in conclusion were there any smells that could have attracted them.. mind you ive never seen thai bees get excited anyway, even when they carry all that sugared down honey along the beach. couldnt get away with that in the uk.

Originally Posted by lob

so in conclusion were there any smells that could have attracted them.

No smells i was aware of. Didn't even cook at home that evening.

Originally Posted by withnallstoke

Last night, around 11 o'clock, i became aware of light tapping sounds on the windows at the front of the house, so from inside the house i turned on the outside light. Initially, there were a few dozen bees flying into the windows, but within seconds the number grew to hundreds/thousands that nearly obscurred the light as they swarmed all over it

Could be zombie bees hungry to feast on human flesh?

Originally Posted by Looper

Could be zombie bees hungry to feast on human flesh?

I had an eerie feeling that the scene at my place could well have been happening at other houses at the same time, and i haven't seen the neighbour for a few days.

Well, nobody cares what I had to say, so, forget it.

Originally Posted by Milkman

I took a course on beekeeping with my cousin as something to do

How was the course Milky? Did you actually keep any bees?

If I was a qualified bee keeper I would train them to attack on command and keep the hive in the living room so they could be guard bees when I am away on holiday.

Originally Posted by Milkman

Well, nobody cares what I had to say, so, forget it.

Well, I did care. I thought "prat".

You could not be bothered to give us the insights that you gained from your bee keeping course?? Not learn anything? We not good enough to pass your wisdom on to?

In all honesty, your was on of the most useless posts I had seen in a long time. And that includes all of Pat and smegs....