Bees delay Delta flight at Pittsburgh International Airport

KDKA

(CBS News) Forget snakes on a plane: Pittsburgh International Airport is dealing with the real-life problem of bees on a plane.

A Delta flight headed to New York on Wednesday night was delayed because a swarm of bees decided to hitch a ride on one of the plane's wings before takeoff.

"They were getting ready to fuel and they came around the corner of the plane and right there on the wing is a cluster of honeybees," Master beekeeper Stephen Repasky of Meadow Sweet Apiaries said to CBS Pittsburgh station KDKA-TV. "It was a shocker to a lot of people."

This was the fourth swarm at the airport, according to Repasky. Last May, 25,000 to 30,000 bees landed on the Taxiway-C light.

The honeybees are a protected species, which means that they can't be killed and must be moved to another location. Repasky took the bees home in a box and will release them at a later date.

When bee colonies get too big, the queen takes off with half of the bees to find a new home. Repasky said that means it could be a 40-foot tree or the wing of a jet liner. Because it happens so often at the airport, Repasky believes there is a honeybee colony somewhere on the premises.

"Specifically, the airport authority have gone through great lengths to make sure that honeybees receive special attention," he said.

[jupiter-2009]

To credibility2, It rather amusing that you as a human say you are superior. You are judge and jury. Just think of all the times in history when one group announces their superiority over others. Think about it, How did that work out?

[jupiter-2009]

To credibility2, It rather amusing that you as a human say you are superior. You are judge and jury. Just think of all the times in history when one group announces their superiority over others. Think about it, How did that work out?

[addict42]

Bees are vital to our survival and with colony collapse in full swing we better treat them like the queens they are.

[credibility2]

This is ridiculous. Honeybees being a protected species obviates the superiority of humans. All this trash about protected species should be eliminated. People are more important than creatures and for commerce to be delayed because of insects, shows how diminished our society has become.

[Ulgnud]

Think a little credibility 2. Bees pollinate our trees and other plants that produce our food. As there has been a problem with a lot of hives dying there is concern that our food supply is impacted. Having a beekeeper come in and relocate a swarm is not a real crisis. In fact it is a healthy indication that at least one hive was thriving enough to be able to swarm. The only reason they were on the aircraft is the new queen chose that spot to rest. Believe me I am not any kind of envirowacko that opposes everything, "just because". However there is a balance of nature that needs to be considered if we plan to live on this planet. We like to eat fruits and vegetables, along with the animals we use to supply our meats. The most efficient way to accomplish the necessary pollination of the plants is by bees doing what bees do.

[addict42]

You must be a product of the "let's stop thinking critically" crowd.