Irishman fails in bee record bid

BBC News on line ^ | June 26, 2005 | Unsigned

[aculeus]

An Irish beekeeper has failed to take the world record for attracting the most bees onto his body after managing a 200,000-strong 'bee beard'.

Wearing little more than underpants and goggles, Philip McCabe, 59, failed to top the 1998 record set in the US of 87.5lb (40kg), or 350,000 bees.

After two hours on scales, he was forced to give up because of numb feet.

"The bees we have in Ireland, this native black bee, is different than the one that holds the record," he said.

'No stings'

Mr McCabe, who is the head of the Irish Beekeepers Association, said he suffered no stings in the stunt - held at Cahir, Co Tipperary - until he jumped off the scales and was stung seven times.

Dozens of people watched his attempt, which was to raise money for charitable causes in Africa.

Beekeepers were on hand with six hives full of bees for the feat.

Using a funnel, they placed the insects onto his abdomen, where they climbed up to rest on his chin.

They were attracted to his body by the scent or pheromones given off by the queen bee which Mr McCabe had placed on his chin.

Speaking after the attempt, Mr McCabe urged people to sponsor a bee with all profits from the record attempt going to two charities - Apimondia Ireland 2005 and Bothar and Bees for Development Trust, which support beekeeping projects in developing countries. Story from BBC NEWS:

Published: 2005/06/26 06:28:34 GMT

© BBC MMV

[aculeus]

Before ...

... and after ...

[Altair333]

"The bees we have in Ireland, this native black bee, is different than the one that holds the record," he said.

Excuses, excuses! Go America! We win again!

[aculeus]

Which picture is more nightmare-ish?

[Dat Mon]

Brian DePalma should do a Hitchcock take off called "The Bees"...and hire this guy for a couple scenes.

Next SPICE channel will have a takeoff called "The Birds and the Bees"....

[CarolTX]

Yikes!

Oh, well...everybody's got to have a hobby....:-)

[ExcursionGuy84]

Know what would make ME so nervous???

Knowing that them "honey-machines" is crawling all over the "Family Jewels".

Sorry if that's to disgusting or disturbing an image; just my personal views.

[aculeus]

Keep yer shirts on!

[linkinpunk]

Ahhh, to bee, or not to bee.

[ExcelJockey]

I think he's got his jock strapped pretty tight. At least I hope so...

[Irish_Thatcherite]

Them honey bees are temperamental - he should have used bumble bees!!

[Paleo Conservative]

How do they count the bees.

[SaveTheChief]

I saw him on Fox and Friends yesterday. He has quite a sense of humor.

[Dan from Michigan]

That is the one thing I am afraid of(stinging insects). Bees, wasps, and most of all those #^#@ing yellow jackets.

If you don't have the yellow jacket in Ireland, you are very lucky.

[ExcursionGuy84]

By weight:

[Mr. McCabe's weight WITH BEES] - [Mr. McCabe's known weight WITHOUT Bees]= [Weight of Bees]

Then, to find the # of the "wingers"

[Total Sum of Bees Weight]/[Average Weight of Individual Bee]= [Total # of Bees]

[Ken H]

Bees, wasps, and most of all those #^#@ing yellow jackets.

LOL. I had a yellow jacket problem a few years ago while doing some outdoor painting. I bought some yellow jacket traps, which netted about 10 of those fu suckers.

I just happened to put down a half finished long neck budweiser where I was working, and the yellow jackets piled in. That damn bottle was packed solid with dead bees in about 30 minutes!

[Youngblood]

There are two species of yellowjacket wasp in Ireland (Vespula vulgaris and V. germanicus). Can be very nasty if disturbed, but otherwise they don't bother people too much, that is until the late summer when their broods are reared. Then they start looking for fruit and sugar and start heading into houses far more frequently.

[Youngblood]

McCabe is pretty well-known in Ireland. He appears very frequently on Derek Mooney's wildlife show, Mooney Goes Wild, and does a lot of good work informing the public about bees, wasps and other insects. Its a shame he failed in this attempt, but he's still got a lot more balls than I do!

[Ken H]

Can be very nasty if disturbed, but otherwise they don't bother people too much, that is until the late summer when their broods are reared.

I've always wondered if the alcohol from fermenting fruit gives them a buzz, and makes them more aggressive.

[Irish_Thatcherite]

How do they count the bees.

Good f€€€in' question!!!

[Irish_Thatcherite]

BTW, I had a look at your about page - it is more 'neo' than 'paleo'!!