Trees with BEES!

Therrin · 14th March 2009, 05:53 PM

A couple weeks ago I had the untold joy of dismantling a tree which had fallen down over a fence line and needed removal.
It had a massive behive inside it, and the suckers were MEAN.... (possibly africanized).
After getting bids of $300 to $600 to have the hive "removed" by a professional, one of them advised me on possible ways of dealing with it myself.

At 11pm the night before the dismantle was to take place, I blitzed the hive with 1 gallon of heavily saturated solution with laundry detergent, 2 bottles of spray, and 3 cans of holiday foggers.
The hive only had one opening....which was LUCKY!!!!
All contents of the above-mentioned were sprayed, pumped, and fogged into the opening of (totally pissed off-even-at-night-time) bees.

Result.... no survivors.

Pics of the hive are to follow after I get the cd from the home-owner. The hive was almost 1ft in diameter inside, and over 9 feet long. Completely filled with comb/larvae/stored honey. Too bad it was all filled with pesticide by then. There must have been 50 lbs or more of honey. Total shame that there was no other alternative.

Here are some pictures of my "bee suit"

This is Ken, the local africanized bee killing machine.

The outfit was HOT!!!! A long sleeved shirt and 3 sweaters, sweat pants and 2 pairs of jeans, boots, gloves, a big straw hat, a bunch of mesh I ended up having to sew together to make big enough, and LOTS of duct tape!

newguy18 · 15th March 2009, 02:30 AM

My grandma has the same hat.

treefeller · 21st March 2009, 07:06 AM

Nice outfit

Jeff Darby · 21st March 2009, 10:44 AM

Who's the pretty boy then!

but hey it it beats the hell out of being stung two million times

newguy18 · 21st March 2009, 11:43 AM

i'll bet brisjason thinks its a nice outfit.

clementine · 21st March 2009, 12:15 PM

Well sorted Therrin..

Hope the professional beeboyz don't make a buzz about you doing their bizz.

TrevMcRev · 22nd March 2009, 10:43 AM

Yeah its funny how much we arbos rag out homeowners for going DIY but i'm sure lots of us do the same just in other areas.

Jeff Darby · 22nd March 2009, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrevMcRev

Yeah its funny how much we arbos rag out homeowners for going DIY but i'm sure lots of us do the same just in other areas.

I had my own apiary for years, lots of variety of quality in the honey basically the closer you get to the queen the better the honey...not unlike us really, The best time to rob a hive is midday when all the boys are out gathering pollen

best time to get rid of one is at night using torch light..you can not sting what you can not see..LOL

Therrin · 22nd March 2009, 03:33 PM

And here comes the pictures! I wasnt joking when I said there were probably millions of the little buggers. The pictures speak for themselves.

Therrin · 22nd March 2009, 03:34 PM

Quite a haul eh?

Therrin · 23rd March 2009, 09:39 AM

Argh! Someone post on my photos....tell me how great they are. Or that they suck. C'mon now, don't be shy. I'm the bee killer! Get mad at me at least! Something!

Eric Frei · 23rd March 2009, 09:48 AM

Yeah, good pics mate, not blurry, not hazy but could do with a separator between them.... you know, a blank line.

I've never had such a problem before, we do get native bee hives but they dont sting.

But large wasp nests, that's a problem.

clementine · 23rd March 2009, 12:09 PM

Nice pics Therrin, what a beauty!

Jeff Darby · 23rd March 2009, 12:16 PM

Bee killer!...LOL..some one had to say it. Good picys

Therrin · 23rd March 2009, 05:35 PM

mass murderer. Or maybe its genocide...

Scared the crap outta me when I blitzed the hive the night before cuz the whole place was buzzing from inside....scary sound. sounded like there was a 200T goin on full bore in there.

LeifR · 24th March 2009, 04:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Therrin

Argh! Someone post on my photos....tell me how great they are. Or that they suck. C'mon now, don't be shy. I'm the bee killer! Get mad at me at least! Something!

Bee-murderer! You asked for it, mate!

I wouldn't say "nice" pics, but interesting pics. Good shots. Bees living free like this will often be exposed to diseases and then infect beekeper's bees after that.
BTW, why didn't you drill a hole in the trunk and placed a tap there? Then you might have filled up a jar of honey now and then!

Leif.

Jason Axe · 25th March 2009, 01:59 PM

last fall i got a job cleaing up a tree with a good size hive in it it was cold enought that the bees couldnt really fly so wasnt to bad interesting too look at tho nice pics

Therrin · 25th March 2009, 06:02 PM

LeifR, One of the properties I lived on, I had a couple supers of bee hives that I tended to. We had a honey extractor not too dissimilar from the one in your picture, except larger. The slats would come out of the super and fit into the extractor barrel and a motor would spin them, slinging the honey off where it would drain to the bottom. Dellllliscious!!!!

To answer your question... I was in the middle of moving, go the job, and needed to take care of the situation immediately. And I didnt really feel like messing with it. I'd have preffered someone to come out and do something about them, but no such luck.

newguy18 · 25th March 2009, 11:30 PM

So what kind of tree,pine?

LeifR · 26th March 2009, 02:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Therrin

LeifR, One of the properties I lived on, I had a couple supers of bee hives that I tended to. We had a honey extractor not too dissimilar from the one in your picture, except larger. The slats would come out of the super and fit into the extractor barrel and a motor would spin them, slinging the honey off where it would drain to the bottom. Dellllliscious!!!!

To answer your question... I was in the middle of moving, go the job, and needed to take care of the situation immediately. And I didnt really feel like messing with it. I'd have preffered someone to come out and do something about them, but no such luck.

I was joking, Therrin. You did exactly what was necessary and right. But I guess you didn't enjoy it.

What beekeepers do when they have to kill a hive because of disease is to use gasoline and a match. Its no fun, and I have never had to try that stunt. The gas kills the bees, the fire destroys bacteries and viruses. There may also be an explosion. Be careful, gas is like dynamite.

Leif.

Therrin · 26th March 2009, 09:12 AM

This setting would have made that approach impossible. It was down in a ravine behind a housing area... covered thick with brush and dead leaves, lots of trees overhead and such.

I was going to try to "smoke them out" with a bee-smoker... burning a burlap sack; but I couldnt come up with the supplies in time, and I didnt want to have to worry about the entire hive deciding to attack me instead of them packing up and leaving from thinking a forest fire was on its way.

(WLL) · 27th March 2009, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newguy18

So what kind of tree,pine?

do pines even get hollow? i cant say ive ever saw or seen a hollow pine. the tree in the pics is no pine.

newguy18 · 27th March 2009, 11:05 AM

I've seen one hollow pine.The bark looked kinda like that of the short needle pine we have down here,which is why i asked.

LeifR · 27th March 2009, 08:19 PM

I think it lookes like some willow type, salix. It is very similar to the type growing here, Salix caprea. They often rot inside like this, the bark is similar, dark innerwood.

Leif.

14th March 2009, 05:53 PM	#1
Therrin Former Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Bakersfield, Ca Posts: 2,512	Trees with BEES! A couple weeks ago I had the untold joy of dismantling a tree which had fallen down over a fence line and needed removal. It had a massive behive inside it, and the suckers were MEAN.... (possibly africanized). After getting bids of $300 to $600 to have the hive "removed" by a professional, one of them advised me on possible ways of dealing with it myself. At 11pm the night before the dismantle was to take place, I blitzed the hive with 1 gallon of heavily saturated solution with laundry detergent, 2 bottles of spray, and 3 cans of holiday foggers. The hive only had one opening....which was LUCKY!!!! All contents of the above-mentioned were sprayed, pumped, and fogged into the opening of (totally pissed off-even-at-night-time) bees. Result.... no survivors. Pics of the hive are to follow after I get the cd from the home-owner. The hive was almost 1ft in diameter inside, and over 9 feet long. Completely filled with comb/larvae/stored honey. Too bad it was all filled with pesticide by then. There must have been 50 lbs or more of honey. Total shame that there was no other alternative. Here are some pictures of my "bee suit" This is Ken, the local africanized bee killing machine. The outfit was HOT!!!! A long sleeved shirt and 3 sweaters, sweat pants and 2 pairs of jeans, boots, gloves, a big straw hat, a bunch of mesh I ended up having to sew together to make big enough, and LOTS of duct tape! Attached Thumbnails

15th March 2009, 02:30 AM	#2
newguy18 Part of the Furniture Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: orlando,fl Posts: 4,977	Re: Trees with BEES! My grandma has the same hat. __________________ Have your say join us today. old schooler

21st March 2009, 07:06 AM	#3
treefeller Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: aaa Posts: 224	Re: Trees with BEES! Nice outfit

21st March 2009, 10:44 AM	#4
Jeff Darby Moderator - Previously known as JayD Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: TreeWorld, Sydney Australia Posts: 2,031	Re: Trees with BEES! Who's the pretty boy then! but hey it it beats the hell out of being stung two million times __________________ Member: Australian Tree Association Join the Australian Tree Association...Have your voice heard ! Arboriculture, A life long study for some, a passing phase for others © Jeffrey J Darby 2011

21st March 2009, 11:43 AM	#5
newguy18 Part of the Furniture Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: orlando,fl Posts: 4,977	Re: Trees with BEES! i'll bet brisjason thinks its a nice outfit. __________________ Have your say join us today. old schooler

21st March 2009, 12:15 PM	#6
clementine Over mature heritage tree Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Shropshire, UK Posts: 509	Re: Trees with BEES! Well sorted Therrin.. Hope the professional beeboyz don't make a buzz about you doing their bizz. __________________ Meddle not in the affairs of dragons - for you are crunchy and taste of chicken!

22nd March 2009, 10:43 AM	#7
TrevMcRev Mature Tree Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Posts: 1,605	Re: Trees with BEES! Yeah its funny how much we arbos rag out homeowners for going DIY but i'm sure lots of us do the same just in other areas.

22nd March 2009, 03:33 PM	#9
Therrin Former Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Bakersfield, Ca Posts: 2,512	Re: Trees with BEES! And here comes the pictures! I wasnt joking when I said there were probably millions of the little buggers. The pictures speak for themselves. Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Therrin; 23rd March 2009 at 11:57 AM.

22nd March 2009, 03:34 PM	#10
Therrin Former Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Bakersfield, Ca Posts: 2,512	Re: Trees with BEES! Quite a haul eh? Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Therrin; 23rd March 2009 at 11:58 AM.

23rd March 2009, 09:39 AM	#11
Therrin Former Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Bakersfield, Ca Posts: 2,512	Re: Trees with BEES! Argh! Someone post on my photos....tell me how great they are. Or that they suck. C'mon now, don't be shy. I'm the bee killer! Get mad at me at least! Something!

23rd March 2009, 09:48 AM	#12
Eric Frei Admin - Razor sharp and independent 2 X Diploma Level 5 qualified arborist Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,816	Re: Trees with BEES! Yeah, good pics mate, not blurry, not hazy but could do with a separator between them.... you know, a blank line. I've never had such a problem before, we do get native bee hives but they dont sting. But large wasp nests, that's a problem. __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

23rd March 2009, 12:09 PM	#13
clementine Over mature heritage tree Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Shropshire, UK Posts: 509	Re: Trees with BEES! Nice pics Therrin, what a beauty! __________________ Meddle not in the affairs of dragons - for you are crunchy and taste of chicken!

23rd March 2009, 12:16 PM	#14
Jeff Darby Moderator - Previously known as JayD Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: TreeWorld, Sydney Australia Posts: 2,031	Re: Trees with BEES! Bee killer!...LOL..some one had to say it. Good picys __________________ Member: Australian Tree Association Join the Australian Tree Association...Have your voice heard ! Arboriculture, A life long study for some, a passing phase for others © Jeffrey J Darby 2011

23rd March 2009, 05:35 PM	#15
Therrin Former Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Bakersfield, Ca Posts: 2,512	Re: Trees with BEES! mass murderer. Or maybe its genocide... Scared the crap outta me when I blitzed the hive the night before cuz the whole place was buzzing from inside....scary sound. sounded like there was a 200T goin on full bore in there.

25th March 2009, 01:59 PM	#17
Jason Axe Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: marysville Posts: 63	Re: Trees with BEES! last fall i got a job cleaing up a tree with a good size hive in it it was cold enought that the bees couldnt really fly so wasnt to bad interesting too look at tho nice pics

25th March 2009, 06:02 PM	#18
Therrin Former Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Bakersfield, Ca Posts: 2,512	Re: Trees with BEES! LeifR, One of the properties I lived on, I had a couple supers of bee hives that I tended to. We had a honey extractor not too dissimilar from the one in your picture, except larger. The slats would come out of the super and fit into the extractor barrel and a motor would spin them, slinging the honey off where it would drain to the bottom. Dellllliscious!!!! To answer your question... I was in the middle of moving, go the job, and needed to take care of the situation immediately. And I didnt really feel like messing with it. I'd have preffered someone to come out and do something about them, but no such luck.

25th March 2009, 11:30 PM	#19
newguy18 Part of the Furniture Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: orlando,fl Posts: 4,977	Re: Trees with BEES! So what kind of tree,pine? __________________ Have your say join us today. old schooler

26th March 2009, 09:12 AM	#21
Therrin Former Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Bakersfield, Ca Posts: 2,512	Re: Trees with BEES! This setting would have made that approach impossible. It was down in a ravine behind a housing area... covered thick with brush and dead leaves, lots of trees overhead and such. I was going to try to "smoke them out" with a bee-smoker... burning a burlap sack; but I couldnt come up with the supplies in time, and I didnt want to have to worry about the entire hive deciding to attack me instead of them packing up and leaving from thinking a forest fire was on its way.

27th March 2009, 11:05 AM	#23
newguy18 Part of the Furniture Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: orlando,fl Posts: 4,977	Re: Trees with BEES! I've seen one hollow pine.The bark looked kinda like that of the short needle pine we have down here,which is why i asked. __________________ Have your say join us today. old schooler

27th March 2009, 08:19 PM	#24
LeifR Mature tree Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Norway Posts: 285	Re: Trees with BEES! I think it lookes like some willow type, salix. It is very similar to the type growing here, Salix caprea. They often rot inside like this, the bark is similar, dark innerwood. Leif. __________________ My place - Bjørndalen. http://www.youtube.com/user/MultiVoff

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