So, I went out yesterday morning to check on the bees. It was already hot and I had on shorts and a tee shirt, which is my normal summer garb. I started out with a couple of nucs, without a veil, just shorts and a tee shirt. Everything went fine, so I moved on to the other hives. All the bees were calm, no issues at all. Until the 12th and last hive. I got the top off and pulled the first frame and got popped on the calf. I backed out and smoked them a little more, went back to the hive and got it again, this time on the knee. I again backed off and smoked my legs, hoping to cover the scent. I walked back to the hive and guess what? 4 times on the legs. By now I was dancing like John Travolta and using unsavory language.I stepped back under a shade tree to scrape out the stingers and couldn't find any.
Lo and behold a nest of paper wasps had built a home under the bottom board of the last hive. And the more I smoked, the madder they got. I just glad they didn't get up my shorts. I think there's a county ordinance against running around naked and screaming.