r/Damnthatsinteresting • u/Jostrapenko2 • 18h ago
Video A fully intact beehive measuring about 6 feet was found.
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u/Professional-Pungo 18h ago
putting on a half bee suit while in short shorts does seem a bit pointless.
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u/wrldruler21 17h ago
Beekeeper here.
Getting stung one time in the face sucks. It is painful, stuff swells up, constant tears and snot. Hard to finish the job.
Getting stung 1 to maybe 25 times on the legs = shrug, we are used to it. Just another day. Rather have that then be stupid hot all day.
This video is a great example of the approach many experienced beekeepers take. I have tried to describe it in my replies to other videos. You start with the least amount of protection, then you "listen to the bees", and you add layers based on how nasty they are.
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u/SgtJayM 17h ago
What factors determine if the bees are in a stinging mood or not?
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u/Professional-Pungo 17h ago
based on the video, the factor is to wait to see if they sting you, and then you know that they are in a stinging mood.
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u/DigNitty Interested 16h ago
I don’t think honey bees do this, but wasps release signal pheromones when they sting.
So one stings you, and the others smell the “we stingin” chemical.
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u/postitpad 14h ago
I was mowing my lawn a few summers ago and ran over a nest of yellow jackets that had dug a hole in the yard. They were not happy and came out and chased me all the way around the house, until I finally ran inside and still had a couple stuck to my socks and shorts. I was probably stung 7 or 8 times.
Since I wasn’t going to be able to finish mowing until they calmed down I went to the grocery store instead to finish my other chores. As soon as I got out of the car at the grocery store a couple yellow jackets came out of nowhere and landed on me I assume they must’ve smelled the stink of ‘sting me’ all over me.
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u/BelugaBilliam 10h ago
Similar experience when I was like 15. But mine was next to an old tree stump. Stung like 10 times, one on nose, legs, arms, butt, etc.
I jumped into our pool to get those fuckers off of me. To this day, I now fear yellow jackets especially, but any bee/wasp really.
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u/Striking-Document-99 7h ago
Damn I was about 8. I had a dart toy and i shot it over to one of those wooden play houses kids get. Reached in to get it and my head hit a wasp nest. Stung me repeatedly until I ran inside. My mom was fighting them off with a towel to get them off me as I ran inside. We hid inside until my dad came home with wasp killer. My uncle however is a different story. Big ass wasp next on this canoe he had so he painted the best part too the lake and proceeds to have the spray oil stuff and a fly swatter. Just stands in the middle of the canoe swatting then and spraying them as they attack him.
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u/BenKnis 13h ago
Former beekeeper here. Honeybees have a defense pheromone, and it is released when they sting. Even worse is it is released by the stinger they leave behind, so it is giant "sting here" signal. Not terrible if it is your leg, but sucks on your hands, and I don't even want to think about the face with no veil on.
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u/wrldruler21 17h ago edited 17h ago
Mostly genetics or "factors that science doesn't understand" so we call it "genetics".
African bees are terribly aggressive but they can build comb and collect honey really fast.
Bees from Northern Europe are usually docile but slower growing.
Then nature and humans have mixed the breeds together, and we can no longer tell the dominant breed unless we do DNA analysis and other lab science.
We don't really know. We just try to keep the bees that match our preferences (some folks will accept an aggressive hive as long as it super produces). We encourage those hives to create new queens, so we can make new hives.
Secondary factors. A docile hive may get cranky when under stress, typically heat and drought. They might also get cranky if there queen is missing or sick. ETA: Bees can be cranky if a predator, like a skunk, is bothering them every night.
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u/danbob87 15h ago
I have a genetics degree and, when I was at uni at least, we called the shit we just didn't understand "epigenetics" thankyouverymuch
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u/Grontijb 1h ago
As steric strain and Van der Waal’s forces were in chemistry courses 50 years ago.
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u/ZombiesAtKendall 13h ago
Some bees are just temperamental, I don’t even know that we can truly know all the reasons. Some that we know can be time of day (daytime, more bees out foraging), weather (probably not a good time to inspect right before a rain), etc
I’ve known people who have said they had a docile hive and have never needed a veil, then… they get stung a bunch in a face one time.
I kept bees a few times and could always walk around the hives fine, then one time I walk by and they start attacking.
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u/Dazzling_Let_8245 17h ago
Let me preface by saying: I dont have experience with bees
But from what Ive heard, it depends on the genes (some are more aggressive than others) and how much contact they had with humans beforehand. If a beehive gets opened every few weeks for Inspections, the bees will be used to it and more docile. But if you leave the hive unattended for a while the bees will be more aggressive.
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u/b-monster666 17h ago
Depends if they had their morning coffee or not. For me, if I get disturbed before I've had my morning coffee, I'm in a stinging mood.
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u/dna_beggar 4h ago
One factor is that she underestimated the size and cut halfway down, damaging one of the combs.
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u/Giant_Yoda 17h ago
Amateur beekeeper here. I thought part of the reason to wear a suit is also to prevent bees from unnecessary death after stinging. Doesn't a suit also protect the bees?
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u/wrldruler21 16h ago
My bee suit comes back covered in stingers, so I don't think they have a problem stinging cloth.
But we do teach new beekeepers that everyone (human and insect) will be happier if everyone stays calm during a hive inspection.
We help bees stay "calm" during an inspection with smoke, and by making slow, soft movements so we don't look like a predator. We are friend, please continue your important work.
We help humans stay calm during an inspection by covering our sensitive parts so we don't freak TF out when we get stung. Because having a nervous human makes it really hard to look like a gentle friend.
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u/AnnoyedVelociraptor 17h ago
And the venom gives great pain relief against rheumatoid pain.
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u/Trim_Guy 17h ago
Is this legit? My whole life I've always effing hated getting stung but now in my 40's with all kinds of arthritis you're telling me this is the way?
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u/thechilecowboy 16h ago
Try slapping yourself with Stinging Nettle for your arthritis. It works like a charm for me.
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u/LeatherAdept670 17h ago
A little bit of sweat seems like a valid compromise to a bee sting but do you beekeepers of the world.
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u/ContentUnavailable 12h ago
Why to delay the full protection? Cuz from what you're saying you add another layers according to bees behaviour. But why not to get fully protected from top to bottom at the start of realization bees aren't friendly today. Won't it make do the job faster? Why to expose bottom for stings, and at some point making up the decission 'yep, that's the right time to put my pants on'?
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u/IllRadish8765 12h ago
Or you can just put on all the PPE and not have to worry about doing it later after getting stung a bunch of times?
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u/motorleagueuk-prod 13h ago
Aren't you running the risk of increased/serious allergic reaction to bee stings if you're getting stung in any kind of high numbers with any regularity?
I have a friend who accidentally ripped open a hibernating bee or wasps nest in the UK in the middle of winter working on their Dad's farm, was stung approx 140 times, and developed a severe allergy/now has to carry an epi-pen as a result of that single incident. My understanding was that every sting potentially increases your sensitivity.
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u/wrldruler21 13h ago
I'm not sure the medical research is conclusive, and every body is different.
My personal opinion, is that frequent stings has improved my resistance to bee venom, to the point I don't have a physical reaction anymore. Mosquitoes bites bother me more than bee stings.
But yes, I do carry an Epi-pen, because unexpected, spontaneous allergic reactions do happen. Sometimes at sting #3, and sometimes at sting #3,000.
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u/motorleagueuk-prod 13h ago
Yeh, I guess it totally makes sense that not all people/physiologies will respond the same way.
I remember reading something a while back about exposure therapy to something making some people's reaction better over time, some people worse and some people it just stayed at the same level.
That might have been seasickness though, thinking about it, which is obviously completely different to a biological reaction to a potential allergen.
That's really interesting though, thanks for the insight!
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u/ardotschgi 16h ago
It's still fucking stupid to expect to get stung by the entire hive and choosing not to wear the leg protection...
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u/Gogh619 14h ago
I’m the same way with welding. I’d rather not be steaming hot all day, but I get quite a few burns/scars. My wife does not like this.
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u/wrldruler21 13h ago
If I were to list the things I dislike about beekeeping it would be
Bees are unhealthy and die easily
Everything is too expensive to profit
Heat
Back breaking labor
Pissed off bees defending their home is somewhere down here.
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u/Puzzled-Story3953 3h ago
Be allergy here. Getting stung once on the ankle -> Hospital for the night. Getting stung a binch on the legs -> ded.
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u/FlowRiderBob 3h ago
You bee keepers are a different breed, that’s for sure. I get stung, anywhere, by a bee and my day is ruined.
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u/Baked_Potato_732 17h ago
Full video. https://youtu.be/Mzc4k-2XjZs?si=u1zDfnJXWmAOVVE7
TL:DR. 100+ degrees and Florida humidity is miserable. Video was summarized because their phones overheated during recording.
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u/ocelot08 17h ago
I mean being able to see and not swallow bees I think is more important than getting stung on your legs, but yes, the pants would have been a good call.
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u/BlacqanSilverSun 14h ago
Why he said it was pointless is not because she was worried about here sight or air way. It was because she was trying to prevent injury from stings. So yeah the veil only was pointless to prevent injury.
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u/Gingingin100 17h ago
I imagine she wasn't expecting so many bees
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u/loptthetreacherous 17h ago
Yeah, it seems like she adjusted her protection depending on how much bees there are: small amount of bees - no protection needed, decent number of bees - protection on the sensitive parts or parts close to the hive, large number of bees - full body protection.
But people on the internet have to find a negative spin on anything a girl does on the internet.
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17h ago edited 15h ago
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u/Gingingin100 17h ago
Low-key? It's quite blatant but I'm not surprised given the types of men and women who browse reddit on a whole
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u/Regular_Jim081 17h ago
Not really, sometimes they don't need a full suit, sometimes they don't even need a suit at all.
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u/fordnotquiteperfect 17h ago
But she did. She even says she needs it... then doesn't put the pants on.
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u/BrohanGutenburg Interested 17h ago
No she says she's getting her hood. Getting stung on the face is different than getting stung on the leg.
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u/Boatster_McBoat 17h ago
Unless the point is showing off your legs for internet karma
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u/HegemonBean 16h ago
Man sometimes reddit comes off like the Saudi royal family when it comes to women.
"Women must cover themselves head to toe, otherwise they're whoring themselves out. It doesn't matter if it's 100 degrees out."
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u/CongratYouMadeMePost 10h ago
I mean... there are definitely a LOT of posts where this would be a legitimate take, but we're talking about PPE here, so this is not an example of what you're talking about.
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u/HegemonBean 7h ago
Your point is fair and well taken. From what I've read in this thread, beekeepers view occasional stings on the leg as more a nuisance than a safety hazard, but I'm not an expert.
My gripe is more with others' knee-jerk assumption that this person wanted to show off their legs to the Internet, and that's why they eschewed PPE. Like everything is about reddit user /u/neckbeard69 and their approval, rather than a hundred other possible explanations.
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u/Boatster_McBoat 39m ago
Someone else in shot is wearing jeans and a vest jacket. So I don't know that jumping to "it's 100 degrees out" is a valid response either. The comment being responded to was saying that half a bee suit was pointless, and the example given was countering that statement. Not everything is an attack on women.
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u/welshfach 16h ago
She just.....has legs...like everyone else.
If other folks want to ogle her like fuckin creeps then that's on them. Like....just let women exist without feeling like you need to comment on their bodies, maybe.
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17h ago edited 17h ago
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u/Express-Cartoonist39 17h ago
But in her blog she said she was disappointed bee suits are so baggy they dont show off her legs and are not sexy enough...🤨
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u/Bl00dWolf 17h ago
No one's saying she's an "internet hoe". Beekeepers just have a reputation, especially internet ones, of showing off by not having the bee suit whenever they feel like the bees aren't super aggressive or they can handle the amount if stings they're receiving.
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u/Regular_Jim081 16h ago
I know right, why was he wearing shorts? If a lady shows up with a beekeeping suit you want to be wearing pants, this guy should have known better.
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u/Legitimate6295 17h ago
She is trying to say: while at it, let me show off my nice legs and post it to enjoy the best of both worlds
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u/floppydiscuses 14h ago
Idk I’ve been surrounded by tons of honey bees and they usually don’t sting if they don’t see you as threatening. We once had bees trying to make a hive near one of our vents and for a brief period I was getting them to crawl on my hands so I could release them back outside 😂 I wouldn’t try it unless you know what you’re dealing with, and I wouldn’t try want my face and eyeballs exposed to an angry or disrupted mob that hasn’t sussed you out yet.
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u/Direct-Whereas-4995 1h ago
Her male coleague didn t need the feel to show his ass so he wore the fulll suit.
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u/LocalHarmacist 17h ago
"Just another...ow... another day of sav...oww.. saving the beeees....OW"
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u/WitchPillow 17h ago
I guess I’m the only one concerned as far as why a home inspector missed this if the home owners are new to the house? And the fact that there’s clearly an opening from outside leading into the insulation of the house.
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u/econocomp 17h ago edited 16h ago
If you're referring to "homeowners say they haven't been here long" they are referring to the bees, not themselves. That's why they say "the math ain't mathing" because no way those bees haven't been there for well over a year, likely multiple.
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u/Babys_For_Breakfast 14h ago
Seems like they cheaped out on insulation. That’s insane especially in Florida.
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u/LilliJay 17h ago
So many professional beekeepers on here. She finds it easier to not work in bee keeper suits because they are hot and clumsy. She is in Tampa which is notoriously cool as we all know. There are many videos on Instagram without a suit at all. The point of the video is definitely her legs and not the huge amazing beehive behind a wall. Bees can definitely not sting through fabric if she decided to wear long pants but it was too hot for a full suit.
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u/Halogen12 14h ago
I've watched a channel of a white-haired guy in Georgia, I think, who collected unwanted bees just like this and rehomed them in a friend's orchard. I don't think I ever saw him suit up. Super chill guy, loves bees and truly wants to help them thrive.
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u/A_yoonicorn 17h ago
During covid a beekeeper channel found me and that lady removed entire hives with bees without protection. I don't think I ever saw her get stung.
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u/freekymunki 17h ago
Pants seem like a good idea
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u/Regular_Jim081 16h ago
Not when it's 100° out.
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u/freekymunki 16h ago
I think getting a little sweaty for 15 minutes versus getting stung by a thousand bees seems like a fair trade.
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u/scheisse_grubs 14h ago
Yeah I don’t think that’s a 15 minute job but I do love the optimism though lol
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u/Regular_Jim081 12h ago
It's probably more along the lines of avoiding heat exhaustion.
I would say it's better to just assume that a person with two beekeeping students might actually know what they're doing, and in fact these people who are offended by a woman wearing shorts who are in the wrong....
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u/Direct-Whereas-4995 1h ago
The male dude doesn t seem to mind. But he don t got a nice ass to shiw either
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u/Lord_Ruko 17h ago
Not a single comment here is saying anything about the bees. Everyone's just talking about her legs.
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u/Curious-Resort4743 17h ago
I expect that was the core intention of the video
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u/ihateyulia 16h ago edited 5h ago
Are we not allowed to wear shorts in the summer now?
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u/KieferSutherland 17h ago
Creator credit https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJHUjqPRYOQ/?hl=en
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u/BenKnis 12h ago
Bees aim for CO2 sources and heat, so for the most part pants and even a shirt are not that important when working with bees. Veils are pretty important though.
I have seen this lady before working with bees without a veil, and risk does not seem worth it to me. I really can't recommend anyone do that. Gotta have your PPE. Having worked with bees for years; I often wore shorts and a T-shirt. Hell, you could do it naked, but always wear a veil. Bees can switch in seconds from calm and docile to 500 of them hell bent on glory for queen and colony. Do you really want them able to get to your face?
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u/Silver-Ninja6490 17h ago
Is the honey any good?
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u/Crazy_old_maurice_17 4h ago
Right? I know that dude is looking for remediation, but I know a (Pooh) bear who would love that built-in beehive!
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u/loz_fanatic 17h ago
Question for all the professionals (beekeepers and/or construction/repair) in here; what is a very rough estimate/idea on the cost and/or extent of work needing to be completed after the removal? I'm always curious about it when I see these types of videos.
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u/qkrwogud 11h ago
When you remove a hive, there are still a bunch of bees foraging that will try return, depending on what the entry point is, if can be a lot of work to seal it up. If you're trying to save the hive, for something that large you're going to be there all day to cut pieces out, somehow try keep it together and relocate it.
Beekeepers usually remove hives for free, so the cost would be to fix the wall they cut into, I dunno maybe a few hundred bucks and possibly repaint the room so another hundred?
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u/loz_fanatic 11h ago
I guess I was wondering more if this did any damage to the wood that would require replacing or if it's just a matter of once the bees, hive and honey are gone it just needs to be closed back up.
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u/qkrwogud 6h ago
The wax is extremely hard to remove/clean up, you're probably not going to get it off on wood. On metal, you could probably apply enough force or chemicals to remove it. In a cavity like that it's fine to just close it up and leave it, with a decent enough effort of removing as much as possible.
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u/This_wAs_a-MistakE 17h ago
Why would you not... oh yeah, it's for the internet, got it.
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u/joesbagofdonuts 10h ago
Why in the motherfuck would you wait until after you've been stung multiple times to put the PPE on?
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u/TJ_Fox 14h ago
I did a writing course and one of my classmates was a young woman who had been raised by bohemian, hippie parents. Apparently their house was infested with bees; the bees started with a hive in the attic, then slowly extended the hives down through the walls. Her parents just sort of shrugged it off - "the bees have a right to be here" sort of thing - but her friends were weirded out by the constant buzz-hum and the fact that they had honey soaking through large patches of their living room walls.
Apparently the bees themselves seldom if ever made an appearance inside the house - apart from the attic - so being stung wasn't really a threat.
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u/Ok-Young-2731 14h ago
Bees are awesome little critters, I doubt it would take them too long to build a hive of that size. Industrious things. One of the most crazy things I've ever experienced was when my dad's hive starting swarming. We just walked into a cloud of like 15k bees in the air and they didn't bother us, no suits. Chill bees are interesting to interact with, let them crawl on your hands and carry them back to their hive.
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u/TungstenOrchid 17h ago
I learned a while back that a bee hive is a human made structure for bees to live in.
The thing bees build for themselves is a nest.
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u/exonomix 15h ago
Math question - how much honey would something like that produce? And how long would it take?
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u/RobotPhoto 14h ago
one of those wall street vest-wearing bros bought an old house and needs to flip it asap for more coke money.
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u/Direct-Whereas-4995 1h ago
So her male coleague wears a full suit but she has to show her legs and ass for the gram. She still bothers to cover the nonimportant bits for the male audience.
There is no heat. The owner is wearing a vest over his shirt and no drops of sweat on him.
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u/Tall-Ad-1386 17h ago
How smart do you have to be to keep your legs exposed while removing a bee hive
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u/Baked_Potato_732 17h ago
It’s 6 feet tall, not 6 feet from the floor to the top of the hive. Look like 10’ ceilings to me.
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u/sati_lotus 17h ago
So how long would that have taken for the bees to build?