My neighbors are having issues.

[The Polack MSgt]

https://www.kmov.com/news/authorities-warn-of-large-swarm-of-bees-attacking-people-in-new-baden-illinois/article_970f83cc-fdf0-11eb-84ff-bbff13a6f1de.html?block_id=990844&fbclid=IwAR35OnU1IMcuxsFstKA4f5CfZXgm2T2jQj1h4klKRgXVrz7TDGtydjWR974

[hlthe2b]

1. Do my bees and yellowjackets somehow know I'm not out to get them and work to protect them?

Last edited Mon Aug 16, 2021, 10:36 AM - Edit history (1)

Though I have a small area of milkweed that I leave for the butterflies in my limited flower garden, I had to go dig out the large patch of waaaaay too overgrown mint, honeysuckle and the invasive Canadian thistle (the bane of my existence). Bees, yellow jackets were out there in large numbers, but I moved cautiously and slowly, pausing each time I removed the offending plants and they left me alone.

I have to say, I was surprised. I would have quit at the first sting, but instead got about 90 minutes in--literally a foot or less away from where they were buzzing alongside the flower heads. Since I am having the wooden top of the fence that surrounds the area replaced today, it was necessary to get most of it done, so I'm lucky.

Sorry that these folks weren't so fortunate. I wonder what set the bees off?

[MuseRider]

5. I had some rather important

heath issues early in the spring that kept me from cleaning out the horses dry lot. It grew, much to my dismay, into a large area of nettles. I wanted to try to get them out of there before they made the burs they are so famous for but was not able to. When I finally thought I could start cutting them out and burning them I walked through and noticed they were covered by thousands of different kinds of bees and other pollen collectors. I really mean thousands, it was buzzing loud enough to hear as a continuous roar. I have been bemoaning the loss of bees over the last few years so of course I left the nettles. It is going to kill me cleaning them all up over the next few years but damn, I have never seen anything quite like the numbers I am still seeing. I have to walk through that mess 4 times a day. I was worried at first but I have never even been approached by a single bee. I can stand there and occasionally one will land on my leg briefly but mostly they just buzz on by with their heavy loads. I am going to call some local bee keepers and see if they want to come and get them. I cannot let this happen again so....

[Wingus Dingus]

2. Hope they aren't Africanized bees. That sounds unusual.

If killer bees start colonizing in the northern US, I will have to move to the tundra. (Also why I've eliminated Arizona for my retirement home).

[The Polack MSgt]

3. They may be africanized bees - Sounds like they took over a domesticated hive

that the nursery keeps.

1st time I've heard of this happening here.

This town is just 10 minutes down the road from me, so it's a bit concerning

[Wingus Dingus]

4. They should capture some and do some DNA testing. I think that

would be big news.