East Texas Quarterly Magazine Spring 2014 | Page 11

answering nature’s call to multiply. The birds and bees of
bee swarms is this: A crowded hive gets restless, usually
sometime in spring or early summer. They prepare two
or more queen cells which will hatch into a new queen in
a few days. Meanwhile, the old queen and about half to
three quarters of the bees pour out in a tornado roaring
through the sky. They settle on a tree branch, bridge railing,
car bumper, building wall, or just anything that suits them.
Then scout bees head out looking for suitable housing. It
might be a hollow tree, a 5 gallon bucket, BBQ pit, barrel,
or even house walls and attics. Hollow trees in the woods
used to house many feral colonies. But now, because of
mites and diseases, you’d be hard pressed to find even one.
Fortunately, there is a growing
interestinkeepingbees in the
country, suburbs, and
even
in
the
city
.People
are
finding
that with careful queen
breeding, you can work
with
calm,
disease
resistant,
productive
bees. Several local beekeepers are always glad
to help new people
get started. And local
organizations such as
Pineywoods
Beekeepers
Association provide monthly
programs, training videos,
and an annual Bee School
each spring. For more information about PBA or
its spring Bee School,
you
can
call
Terry
McFall at [phone].

particularly hot weather, or no nectar flow, the backyarder
puts up his gear, goes to the house for an adult beverage,
and waits for better conditions. The professional takes
his licks and keeps going. He’s got 200 to 400 boxes to
work that day, and the same tomorrow. No time to wait for
better conditions. When that occasional sting does
happen, what should you do? Well, first of all, scratch it
out with a fingernail, pocket knife, hive tool, or credit card.
Don’t pinch it out with your fingers, as this will only squeeze
more poison into the sting site. With the stinger removed,
you can dab a little vinegar, chewing tobacco, baking
soda, or any of Mom’s suggestions. But many break out
with vigorous cursing, using every four letter word known.

A migrating honeybee swarm rests in a tree. A swarm may stay in the same location for a few
hours to several weeks, according to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service entomologists.
(Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo by Wizzie Brown)

You may have heard it said, “If bees didn’t have
stingers, bee hives would be as popular as tomato plants.”
And it’s true. Most everybody appreciates the bees, and
loves the honey, but not too keen on the beekeeping.
However, with proper equipment, clothes, and gentle
natured bees, a sting can be a rarity. Once past the fear factor,
you begin to actually enjoy the fascinating creatures,
and their dogged determination to survive and prosper.
You also become more aware of the plant world, bees
interaction, and relationships all around us. Just as you see
a vision of your future as a tree hugger, one of the little
buggers zaps you on the neck and brings you back to the
real world. But here’s where professional and amateurs
part ways. When bees are cranky due to cloudy, rainy,

9