OT: Attack of the 'Griller' Bees (long)

Food, cooking, cookbooks, and recipes, post #179,450
Author:
Date:
Subject:
 ChattyCathy
 2008-07-20 18:54:26
 OT: Attack of the 'Griller' Bees (long)
Heh. Thanks to Peter L, (who posted some yummy pictures) we fired up the
grill (a.k.a. a braai here in RSA) yesterday to cook some 'Wors (spicy
sausage) and some chicken wings - after a few months of cold weather...

We only had briquettes, (because DS did the last 'charcoal' run and he
prefers briquettes - which are not as good, IMHO - which don't smoke as
much as lump charcoal). However, as soon as those briquettes gave off the
first puff of smoke we were inundated by bees that were buzzing all over
the veranda near the grill. We concluded that they must have made a nest in
the ceiling or somewhere nearby...

Anyway, after a while (when the bees had made it clear that they weren't
going anywhere else soon) we decided to move the grill quite a way out into
the back yard, because obviously we had disturbed them, and none of us
fancied getting stung. By the time the meat was ready, the bees had all
disappeared, but it was almost sundown, so there was nothing unusual about
that. We discussed the implications of this at great length; we've always
had bees around here, but they've never tried to make a nest in, or too
close to the house before - so what to do? DH said we'd see if they were
still there in the morning, and then make a decision about how to deal with
them. Morning came and there they were, all buzzing around the same area of
the veranda (no grilling in process). We were contemplating calling the
pest control guys - then the strangest thing happened - at about 11.30am
they just vanished. Gone. No sign of them. Not a bee in sight. And we
haven't seen them since then.

Anybody have any idea(s) about what was going on, or what we should do about
the situation - in case they come back?

BTW, I know all the good things that bees do, I just don't want them to make
a nest in (or too near) my own home.
--
Cheers
Chatty Cathy

Egg tastes better when it's not on your face...
Author:
Date:
Subject:
 Sheldon
 2008-07-20 10:27:19
 Re: OT: Attack of the 'Griller' Bees (long)
On Jul 20, 12:54�pm, ChattyCathy <[email protected]> wrote:
> Heh. Thanks to Peter L, (who posted some yummy pictures) we fired up the
> grill (a.k.a. a braai here in RSA) yesterday to cook some 'Wors (spicy
> sausage) and some chicken wings - after a few months of cold weather...
>
> We only had briquettes, (because DS did the last 'charcoal' run and he
> prefers briquettes - which are not as good, IMHO - which don't smoke as
> much as lump charcoal). However, as soon as those briquettes gave off the
> first puff of smoke we were inundated by bees that were buzzing all over
> the veranda near the grill. We concluded that they must have made a nest in
> the ceiling or somewhere nearby...
>
> Anyway, after a while (when the bees had made it clear that they weren't
> going anywhere else soon) we decided to move the grill quite a way out into
> the back yard, because obviously we had disturbed them, and none of us
> fancied getting stung. By the time the meat was ready, the bees had all
> disappeared, but it was almost sundown, so there was nothing unusual about
> that. We discussed the implications of this at great length; we've always
> had bees around here, but they've never tried to make a nest in, or too
> close to the house before - so what to do? DH said we'd see if they were
> still there in the morning, and then make a decision about how to deal with
> them. Morning came and there they were, all buzzing around the same area of
> the veranda (no grilling in process). We were contemplating calling the
> pest control guys - then the strangest thing happened - at about 11.30am
> they just vanished. Gone. No sign of them. Not a bee in sight. And we
> haven't seen them since then.
>
> Anybody have any idea(s) about what was going on, or what we should do about
> the situation - in case they come back?
>
> BTW, I know all the good things that bees do, I just don't want them to make
> a nest in (or too near) my own home.


Chances they were bees is slim, probably wasps/hornets.

There are likely thousands of wasp/hornet nests on/in and around your
home... not a whole lot you can do about it either. They won't bother
you unless provoked... you obviously invaded a nesting area and so the
entire colony swamed in a defensive move until you departed. Had you
used the area more frequently they probably wouldn't have nested
there. If you look around carefully, especially up at the roof area
and on the underside of tables you will see the various kinds of
nests. Some types build humongus nests but most are no larger than a
ping pong ball. Inside covered grills is a favorite nesting place.

http://www.ebeehoney.com/beeid.html
Author:
Date:
Subject:
 Sqwertz
 2008-07-20 12:48:52
 Re: OT: Attack of the 'Griller' Bees (long)
Sheldon <[email protected]> wrote:

> Chances they were bees is slim, probably wasps/hornets.

Chances are you're talking out of your ass again.

Not everyone is a downright, certified, USDA Grade AA idiot such as
yourself, that couldn't tell the difference between bees and
hornets/wasps.

-sw
Author:
Date:
Subject:
 ChattyCathy
 2008-07-20 19:55:27
 Re: OT: Attack of the 'Griller' Bees (long)
Sheldon wrote:

>
> Chances they were bees is slim, probably wasps/hornets.

They were bees, trust me. I've had wasps/hornets here before, I know the
difference...
>
> There are likely thousands of wasp/hornet nests on/in and around your
> home... not a whole lot you can do about it either.

We've had (and got rid of) hornets' nests before. Those look like
little 'mud' heaps; enough water/insecticide - then knock the nests off -
and they're gone.

> They won't bother
> you unless provoked... you obviously invaded a nesting area and so the
> entire colony swamed in a defensive move until you departed. Had you
> used the area more frequently they probably wouldn't have nested
> there.

Well I did say we hadn't grilled in a while...

> If you look around carefully, especially up at the roof area
> and on the underside of tables you will see the various kinds of
> nests.

We checked that... nothing under the tables/grill. We assumed they had got
into the ceiling via the small gaps near the roof beams...

> Some types build humongus nests but most are no larger than a
> ping pong ball. Inside covered grills is a favorite nesting place.

True, but our grill is not covered.
>
> http://www.ebeehoney.com/beeid.html


I'll check it out, thanks
--
Cheers
Chatty Cathy

Egg tastes better when it's not on your face...
Author:
Date:
Subject:
 George Shirley
 2008-07-20 12:47:03
 Re: OT: Attack of the 'Griller' Bees (long)
ChattyCathy wrote:
> Heh. Thanks to Peter L, (who posted some yummy pictures) we fired up the
> grill (a.k.a. a braai here in RSA) yesterday to cook some 'Wors (spicy
> sausage) and some chicken wings - after a few months of cold weather...
>
> We only had briquettes, (because DS did the last 'charcoal' run and he
> prefers briquettes - which are not as good, IMHO - which don't smoke as
> much as lump charcoal). However, as soon as those briquettes gave off the
> first puff of smoke we were inundated by bees that were buzzing all over
> the veranda near the grill. We concluded that they must have made a nest in
> the ceiling or somewhere nearby...
>
> Anyway, after a while (when the bees had made it clear that they weren't
> going anywhere else soon) we decided to move the grill quite a way out into
> the back yard, because obviously we had disturbed them, and none of us
> fancied getting stung. By the time the meat was ready, the bees had all
> disappeared, but it was almost sundown, so there was nothing unusual about
> that. We discussed the implications of this at great length; we've always
> had bees around here, but they've never tried to make a nest in, or too
> close to the house before - so what to do? DH said we'd see if they were
> still there in the morning, and then make a decision about how to deal with
> them. Morning came and there they were, all buzzing around the same area of
> the veranda (no grilling in process). We were contemplating calling the
> pest control guys - then the strangest thing happened - at about 11.30am
> they just vanished. Gone. No sign of them. Not a bee in sight. And we
> haven't seen them since then.
>
> Anybody have any idea(s) about what was going on, or what we should do about
> the situation - in case they come back?
>
> BTW, I know all the good things that bees do, I just don't want them to make
> a nest in (or too near) my own home.
It may have been a portion of a hive, ie a new queen and a few drones
(males) and a lot of workers moving out to form a new hive elsewhere. If
that's what it was you might still have a hive in the walls or attic.

The way to find out is to make a batch of sugar water, one part sugar to
four parts water, won't take much. Put it in a shallow saucer or a jar
lid, place it out where you can watch it. Then you look for bees coming
to the sugar water and then track their flight to see where they're
taking the sugar. We used to do that to find wild hives to rob of their
honey.

It they are hiving in your house walls or attic I would see if there is
a beekeeper nearby who would be interested in getting them out. He or
she might even be able to get the honey out of the walls without tearing
them up very much but certainly they would be able to get rid of the
bees for you. HTH
Author:
Date:
Subject:
 ChattyCathy
 2008-07-20 20:16:12
 Re: OT: Attack of the 'Griller' Bees (long)
George Shirley wrote:


> It may have been a portion of a hive, ie a new queen and a few drones
> (males) and a lot of workers moving out to form a new hive elsewhere. If
> that's what it was you might still have a hive in the walls or attic.
>
> The way to find out is to make a batch of sugar water, one part sugar to
> four parts water, won't take much. Put it in a shallow saucer or a jar
> lid, place it out where you can watch it. Then you look for bees coming
> to the sugar water and then track their flight to see where they're
> taking the sugar. We used to do that to find wild hives to rob of their
> honey.
>
> It they are hiving in your house walls or attic I would see if there is
> a beekeeper nearby who would be interested in getting them out. He or
> she might even be able to get the honey out of the walls without tearing
> them up very much but certainly they would be able to get rid of the
> bees for you. HTH


Thanks for the advice, George. My Dad and DH also talked about doing the
sugar water thing if they return. We have brick walls, so my bet is that if
they've made a nest somewhere it's in the space between the ceiling boards
and the roof, which is not really an 'attic' - put it this way, a human
being can't walk upright in there, except at the apex. Finding a bee keeper
is an option too.
--
Cheers
Chatty Cathy

Egg tastes better when it's not on your face...