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Old 11-16-2024, 05:46 PM
Blueblaze Blueblaze is offline
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Stung by your neighbor's pet bee? Give me a break! You're more likely to be stung by lightning.

I've told this story before, but back in Texas, I opened the compost bin one day to discover that it had become a bee hive since the last time I'd thrown anything in. The poor bees freaked out at the destruction of their home. The combs hanging from the lid I'd just removed had fallen on the compost pile, and in the mess I could see the queen stuck in the honey and a mass of workers working madly to free her. I was so fascinated, I forgot to run, even with bees buzzing around my head. NOT A SINGLE BEE ATTEMPTED TO STING ME, and these were wild bees, not some farmer's tame hive. I carefully put the lid back on and left them to their misery. I had no idea that even wild honey bees were so docile.

The next day, I was feeling bad about them, so I decided to buy a proper hive and try to move them. But before I laid out the $250 bucks, I went back to check on them. This time, I carefully cracked the lid and peered inside. They were all gone.

Honeybees are bred to be docile, and unlike the wasps living under your eaves, they actually die if they sting you. They don't want to die any more than you do.

I think it would be great fun if my neighbor kept bees, so I'd get to watch them without all the work of caring for them.