To Bee or Not to Bee

Honeycomb

Bees in our tree

This past weekend Mister John came to the surprising discovery that there was a swarm of bees in the corner of the backyard.  No, not the little Bee Girl from the Blind Melon video, actual bees.  While he was feeding the rabbits, he heard a buzz or two and didn't think much of it.  But then he looked straight up, and there it was, three feet above his head, a large swarm of bees centered around their queen.  Needless to say he was a bit startled and was about to tell Miss Jill that they needed Animal Control.  However, that would have been a bad choice of words as that's the number one calls with a deceased animal.  (Thump.)  Time to call some bee people whomever they may be.  At least someone who will deal with the swarm with funny hats and smoke guns or whatever it takes.

Not exactly in our tree

Some  volunteer on the phone said that sometimes the swarms just leave after a day or two.  Well, the bees seemed to grow in strength.  Minor bit of panicking.  Mister John tried to use the sprinkler and later the hose -- all the while ready to bolt for the den door in case of angry swarm -- but neither of those choices seemed to work.  Time to call the professionals.  It took him about 30 minutes but it was successful as he took the queen and the majority of the swarm with him, leaving us the honeycomb behind.



The beemaster told Mister John and Miss Jill that there was actually a swarm of the Africanized bees at a construction site in Marina del Rey this afternoon.  Wow, the actual "killer" bees.  They're on the Westside!  How can they afford the rent?  That assuredly means that the happy couple will stay an even more distant step from the next bee or two that they will see.

The professional