Ow!

I got my first sting today since I started keeping bees in June.  It was entirely my fault, but I was wanting to get a sting sooner rather than later.  With bee sting allergies, you can develop an allergy if you are around them a lot and never get stung.  This really happens when the bees try to sting you, but your bee jacket and/or veil prevents the sting and venom is left on the surface.  The venom becomes airborne and after you inhale it, you develop the allergy.

Thankfully, I am not allergic as I can attest after today.  After refilling the feeder, I decided to rearrange some bars.  Because they seem to build comb a lot faster if it is towards the middle of the brood nest instead of towards the outside, I took a bar that was partially drawn and moved it to the center of the brood nest.  To do this, I had to pull a couple empty bars, slide some others down, move the bar I wanted to move, slide the other bars back and then replace the bars that I removed.  Well, all that is difficult to do without smooshing a bee or two.  After I had everything back in place, I notice a half of a bee lying on top of the bars.  As I moved to brush it off the bars, another bee promptly payed me back by stinging me on my thumb.

Now I do have all the necessary protective gear, but I generally don't like to use it when it is above 75 degrees outside--which is pretty much the weather when you are working with the bees.  The bees have been very docile, and I was really only planning to refill the feeder.  But then, I remembered that I wanted to move the bar of partially drawn comb.  That was where my plan fell apart.  I should have at least had my smoker, and a spray bottle of sugar water would have been great too.  Next time, I'll have at least one or the other before I start moving bars.

Oh, I did see the queen, too.  She still seems to be doing well.  She seems to prefer the newer comb, as that is where she is whenever I see her.  It could be a coincidence, but I would like to think that she prefers her nursery to be fresh and clean.  The population seems to be building really well and they are almost up to the minimum number of combs to get them through the winter.  Let's hope!