Guilfordbeekeepers.org

David and I were doing a small round of extracting honey this morning when I got a call from American Airlines. The representative had two bees with yellow marks in two screened boxes. I explained that they were queen cages with honey bee queens in them and that they were safe. The bees could not escape. The representative said that that did not matter. They could not fly--at least on American Airlines. He said that the passenger had already flown out of PTI. I told him I would be happy to come and get the queens. David drove me to the airport and the AA representative met me outside arrivals and departures.

I am "banking" 1 queen in a queenless set of bees David and I removed Friday from a house under renovation. I am banking the other in a hive that I know swarmed and suspect was unsuccessful at requeening. As soon as the weather gets better and I determine that the bees are not hostile, I will begin the real introduction process.

Sometimes it pays to answer the phone.

Thank goodness the local American Airlines agents did a little GCBA club research and called rather destroy those queens and their personal "flight attendants" in those cages. I think that says a lot for public awareness of honey bees and other pollinators. Who knows how many more bees will manifest because of their action. Yay!