Watch the frames, yeah? Gently does it. You got this?
Afterto
Yo Tom! You think I can handle these buggers? I mean they got stingers and shit. They ain’t gonna be gentle
Hey, don't worry. These bees are well-cared for and have no reason to be aggressive. Just move slowly and confidently, and they'll respect you.
Afterto
…okay….
That's the spirit! Remember, communication is key. Talk to the bees, tell them you're there to help. They'll sense your intentions.
Afterto
Bees man… fuckin’ bees! Are we even supposed to wear anything? Some kinda suit or somethin’? Cause if so I didn’t bring nothing.
Nah, no need for suits. Just make sure you're wearing clothes that cover your skin, and you'll be fine. Trust me, these bees are friendly.
Afterto
Fuck ok then. Soooo when I’m in here I just like walk around till I find some honey right?
Not quite, Afterto. The honey is stored in the honeycombs, which are made up of hexagonal cells. You'll need to locate the honey super, that's where the honey is.
Afterto
oh that sound easy af, lemme find this honey super then!
Actually, it might be helpful to start by familiarizing yourself with the different parts of the hive. Let me give you a quick tour.
Afterto
yeah sure man but I just wanna get that honey I’m hungry as fuck
Hold your horses, Afterto. We gotta do this right. The first thing you should know is the difference between worker bees and guard bees.
Afterto
ughhh, okay why even separate em? They both look the same to me, just smaller or bigger versions of each other
Well, it's not just about their size. Guard bees are responsible for protecting the hive, while worker bees are responsible for all the other tasks like foraging and caring for the young. It's important to know who's who when you're working with the bees. Now, let's move on to the next part of the hive - the brood nest. This is where the queen lays her eggs, and it's a pretty sacred place. We gotta be careful not to disturb it. Tom gently leads Afterto towards the brood nest, showing him the delicate eggs and larvae See these little guys? They're gonna grow up to be either workers or drones. Isn't nature amazing?
Afterto
Wow tom, this is crazy, the eggs are really small bro. And there’s so many of em, wait a minute….how do you tell who is who? Like how do you know that one isn’t just a grub or something
Great question, Afterto. It might seem overwhelming at first, but once you learn a few key signs, it becomes easier. See this small egg over here? It's an unfertilized egg that will hatch into a worker bee. These eggs are usually laid along the edge of the comb and are larger than the fertilized ones. On the other hand, these bigger eggs in the center are fertilized and will turn into queens or drones. They're also more rounded and have a slightly different shape. With a little practice, you'll be able to spot them easily. Tom points out some of the eggs to Afterto, guiding his hand as he examines them Now, let's keep going. There's a lot more to see in this hive.
Afterto
How tf can you tell the sex of the eggs???
I see you're curious, Afterto. Telling the sex of the eggs might be a bit tricky, but it's all about observation and understanding the patterns. See this row of eggs over here? The ones at the bottom are females, and the ones at the top are males. The queen bee lays her eggs in a specific pattern, and by observing the shape and placement of the eggs, we can determine whether they'll become workers, drones, or even queens themselves. It might take some practice, but trust me, after a while, it becomes second nature. Tom gestures towards a row of eggs, pointing out the differences between the female and male eggs Can you spot the difference now, Afterto?
Afterto
Bro, that’s too much information I think. What about we just focus on finding that honey first, eh
Alright, alright. No need to overwhelm you with all the details. Let's focus on finding that honey. Follow me, I'll show you the way.
Afterto
Oh shit there’s a lot of these little fuckers, like hundreds of em. Does each one do one job??
Well, sort of, Afterto. Each worker bee in the hive has a specific role, and they switch jobs as they age. For example, young bees called nurse bees feed the larvae and clean the cells, while older bees called foragers go outside to gather nectar and pollen. There are also guards that protect the hive entrance and scouts that search for new sources of food. So, while there are hundreds of bees in the hive, they're all working together to keep everything running smoothly. Pretty impressive, huh? Now, let's keep moving forward. The honey super should be just ahead.
Afterto
Woah! Yo honey super that’s cool looking. Now where is that honey man???
Hold your horses, Afterto. Before we dive into the honey super, there's something important we need to do.
Afterto
what bro?
Well, Beforeto, before we can access the honey, we need to make sure the bees give us permission. It's all about communication and respect.
Afterto
bro calm down. You gonna teach me how to talk to the fuckin’ bees now?
Not exactly, Afterto. We don't need to talk to the bees in the conventional sense. Instead, we need to show them that we mean no harm.
Afterto
how tf do you do that??
Good question, Afterto. We show the bees that we mean no harm by performing a special dance called the "waggle dance".
Afterto
Ughh, dancing bro? At least teach me how to pull honey
Pulling honey is relatively simple, Afterto. You just need to use a honeycomb extractor to extract the honey from the honeycomb cells.
Afterto
hey where’s the honey dude????
Hold your patience, Afterto. We're almost there. Just a couple more steps and we'll be enjoying that sweet honey in no time.
Afterto
…Steps? Dude this better be worth it
Trust me, Afterto, it'll be worth it. But first, we need to put on our beekeeping suits to protect ourselves from any stray stings.
Afterto
Ooooof fine..
While we're getting suited up, I'll explain the next step. Once we're all geared up, we'll open the hive and perform the waggle dance to gain the bees' permission. Then, we can safely remove the honey super and extract the delicious honey inside. Sound good?
Afterto
yes sir I think
Excellent! Now that we're all suited up and ready to go, let's open the hive and start our adventure. Remember, stay calm and move slowly.
Afterto
what the fuck is that smell bro???
Ah, you've noticed the scent, have you? That's the unmistakable smell of honeybees, my friend.