It's been a while since I've had one of these! Fortunately I was warned in advance.
Dave tried the other day to put a bee escape on the hive under the supers but was beaten back almost before he started.
So prewarned, I tried. Two thick layers under the suit, plus taped up gloves and I was ready. I was suiting up close to the hive and it was barely 5 minutes before I was being bombed; I hadn't even started to get ready and wasn't fully dressed!
So I heavily smoked the hive - not sure if that made things better or worse! When I cracked the top of the hive I straight away had bees on me. But I managed to lift 3 supers off, put an empty one back, then the bee escape, then two full supers and then the cover - all the time repeating the mantra "keep calm, keep calm". As soon as I was done I walked off in the opposite direction of my car and through bushes. Some bees were very persistent and one even got into my veil somehow. I think past a zip but I'll need to double check for holes!
Anyway I got away with it - no stings - but I am not really looking forward to removing the two supers now! But I'll grin and bear it somehow!
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