Ateo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5912
Registered: 7-18-2011
Member Is Offline
|
|
Bees on the Sea of Cortez
Monday morning my wife and I went out for a little kayaking out of BOLA. Dead calm. No wind. No sounds.
We were maybe a 1/4 mile from shore when I heard a buzz sound by my ear - but I ignored it. 3 seconds later I looked up and saw a swarm of bees the
like I had never seen before. They started buzzing us and I have to admit - it was little scary having no place to run! In my mind, if things turned
worse and they started stinging us, I was thinking of jumping off the kayak and maybe even flipping it over for shelter.
Yes, I'm a city slicker. 
[Edited on 6-26-2024 by Ateo]
|
|
|
JZ
Select Nomad
Posts: 11687
Registered: 10-3-2003
Member Is Offline
|
|
I've seen it several times out on the boat. Worst ever was at anchor at Bahia San Fransquito. We had just made lunch and they were everywhere.
We came down from BoLA and were heading to San Carlos in Sonora. I was debating whether to stay the night in San Fransquito or head across the
mid-drift islands to Kino Bay.
The bees made the decision very easy. 
|
|
|
oxxo
Banned
Posts: 2347
Registered: 5-17-2006
Location: Wherever I am, I'm there
Member Is Offline
Mood: If I was feeling any better, I'd be twins!
|
|
I kept my trawler at Marina La Paz for 10 years. We spent a lot of time at the SOC islands for several days at a time. Occasionally, bees would be a
problem, but not often. We would just pull anchor and move to a different spot or go inside and close things up until they went away. However, I
would not want to be in a kayak when this happened! My boat was a little larger than a kayak, so we kept the kayak up on the boat deck when not in
use. I still have the inflatable Hobie tandem peddle/paddle kayak. It's for sale in San Jose d C. Send me a U2U if interested.
|
|
|
stillnbaja
Banned
Posts: 694
Registered: 5-4-2023
Member Is Offline
|
|
Quote: Originally posted by JZ  | I've seen it several times out on the boat. Worst ever was at anchor at Bahia San Fransquito. We had just made lunch and they were everywhere.
We came down from BoLA and were heading to San Carlos in Sonora. I was debating whether to stay the night in San Fransquito or head across the
mid-drift islands to Kino Bay.
The bees made the decision very easy.
|
what's the deal,your entourage/body guards refused to shoo away those pesky bees?
|
|
|
pacificobob
Super Nomad
Posts: 2313
Registered: 4-23-2006
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: Originally posted by stillnbaja | | Quote: Originally posted by JZ | I've seen it several times out on the boat. Worst ever was at anchor at Bahia San Fransquito. We had just made lunch and they were everywhere.
We came down from BoLA and were heading to San Carlos in Sonora. I was debating whether to stay the night in San Fransquito or head across the
mid-drift islands to Kino Bay.
The bees made the decision very easy.
|
what's the deal,your entourage/body guards refused to shoo away those pesky bees? |
,ππππ
|
|
|
AKgringo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6098
Registered: 9-20-2014
Location: Anchorage, AK (no mas!)
Member Is Offline
Mood: Retireded
|
|
Not bees, but a hell of a swarm
Driving out toward San Juan de La Costa I drove through a fresh hatch of moths. It wasn't just my windshield that caught hell, there were enough bugs
to clog a radiator!
I drove down to a long beach right off the highway, and the high-water mark was a solid line of dead bugs! This was during a big bloom after one of
the late summer storm systems drenched the area.
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
|
|
|
elgatoloco
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4340
Registered: 11-19-2002
Location: Yes
Member Is Offline
|
|
In her previous life my wife kept bees. She insists that swarming bees are the safest bees. They are looking for a new home and not trying to protect
the one they already have. Still not excited about putting it the test..........if you know what I mean. 
MAGA
Making Attorneys Get Attorneys
|
|
|
David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65044
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
|
|
Have had encountered Africanized bees a few times while south of San Felipe. The unprovoked multiple stinging is annoying. Tea tree oil saved the day!
|
|
|
surabi
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6042
Registered: 5-6-2016
Member Is Offline
|
|
Yes, a lot of insects hate the smell of tea tree oil. I much prefer to use it than using toxic Off and such.
Mosquitos and no seeums will also stay away from you.
Most insects that sting don't just fly or crawl around looking for people to sting, it's just their defense mechanism. Waving your arms around trying
to shoo them away is the best way to get stung. If you stay calm and still, you'll not likely get stung.
I once had a scorpion plop onto my arm from the ceiling, while lying in bed reading. I stayed perfectly still and it just crawled down my arm onto the
bed, and then the floor, where I whacked it with a shoe.
[Edited on 6-26-2024 by surabi]
|
|
|
David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65044
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
|
|
Scorpion brutality! LOL
The tea tree oil (melaleuca alternifolia) is applied to the sting or bite of a poisonous critter and the Australian plant oil neutralizes the venom...
Still stings but reduces the pain or quickens the recovery. I never go anywhere without a tube of the gel or a bottle of the oil.
We were sitting under the sun canopy when several bees went right for me and stung me about three times. Unprovoked.. but we suspect it may be because
I was wearing blue swim trunks and or the sun canopy was blue. That seemed to attract them. They didn't touch Baja Angel... lucky girl!
|
|
|
oxxo
Banned
Posts: 2347
Registered: 5-17-2006
Location: Wherever I am, I'm there
Member Is Offline
Mood: If I was feeling any better, I'd be twins!
|
|
| Quote: Originally posted by David K |
We were sitting under the sun canopy when several bees went right for me and stung me about three times. Unprovoked.. but we suspect it may be because
I was wearing blue swim trunks and or the sun canopy was blue. That seemed to attract them. ! |
No, they stung you for poor taste in swimming attire!
|
|
|
surabi
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6042
Registered: 5-6-2016
Member Is Offline
|
|
Another thing that works well for scorpion stings is the plant called sword plant or mother-in-law's tongue. It isn't a juicy plant, it's quite
fibrous. But if you cut a leaf in 1 inch chunks, and pound them with a rock or something into a mash, and apply it to the sting, it lessens the pain
and seems to prevent intense reactions.
I once got a bad scorpion sting by one of those small almost transparent ones, that pack a big whallop, on the base of my thumb. My thumb was totally
numb for weeks, and it took 3 months before I got complete feeling back in it.
Yes, I kill scorpions and c-ckroaches. They're welcome to run around outside, but not in my house. All the other insects I leave be. I don't even mind
some occasional ants in the house- they're usually just cleaning up some bit of food or a dead bug and then leave again.
[Edited on 6-27-2024 by surabi]
|
|
|
Tioloco
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3622
Registered: 7-30-2014
Member Is Offline
|
|
Dealt with plenty of bee swarms thru the years but the worst was at San Francisquito. Had a nice campsite and was visited by a swarm that was thirsty
for water in the morning. Most persistent swarm I have seen. Had to throw everything back in the truck and hit the road with some pep in my step. Was
able to stop and pack things up after about a mile or so. Luckily no stings.
|
|
|
BajaBlanca
Select Nomad
Posts: 13211
Registered: 10-28-2008
Location: La Bocana, BCS
Member Is Offline
|
|
Our neighbor in La Bocana said he once had to dig himself into the sand because of a swarm.
|
|
|
Yellowtail_Fever
Newbie
Posts: 16
Registered: 1-25-2013
Member Is Offline
|
|
Bees on the Sea
I have seen bees on the east side of San Marcos Island. They were not hostile but we didn't hang around.
Every trip I make to Baja is an adventure filled with discovery and treasure.
|
|
|
RFClark
Super Nomad
Posts: 2470
Registered: 8-27-2015
Member Is Offline
Mood: Delighted with 2024 and looking forward to 2025
|
|
This has been the worst year in the last 30 for bees south of San Felipe. Colonies have been dividing and looking for new locations. The house we
sold had 3 colonies move in that needed to be removed. These are bees with attitude as well as David noted.
South Campos have had large flower blooms these last few years as a result of climate change. (It has rained far more than average) So for the trees,
flowers and bees a good thing.
|
|
|
Flatfish
Newbie
Posts: 13
Registered: 3-18-2024
Member Is Offline
|
|
Came across a swarm just south of Playa Cocos at La Virgen del Camino. Fun to watchβ¦.
  
|
|
|
Ateo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5912
Registered: 7-18-2011
Member Is Offline
|
|
Wow. Beautiful shot. Thanks.
|
|
|
![[*]](images/xmbforum/default_icon.gif){kind=icon}
