>>> WELCOME BACK.
MOST PEOPLE GET TIKTOK FAMOUS
FOR DANCING, SINGING, MAYBE A
CUTE PET, BUT NOT OUR NEXT
GUEST.
>> THAT’S RIGHT.
NO WAY.
ERICA THOMPSON IS FAMOUS FOR
BEES.
YOU MIGHT SAY THE TEXAS NATIVE
IS THE QUEEN BEE OF TIKTOK.
SHE’S RACKED UP 60 MILLION VIEWS
FOR HER HUMANE BEE REMOVAL
PRACTICES.
LOOK, MA, NO SPECIAL SUITS, NO
GLOVES, ALL HEART.
>> AFTER I REMOVED THE COMB, I
SCOOPED THE BEAUS INTO THE NEW
HIVE.
AS SOON AS I PUT THE BEES BY THE
HIVE, THEY MARCHED RIGHT IN.
>> WOW.
>> ERICA ALSO HAS A SOOTHING
VOICE.
THE FOUNDER OF TEXAS BEE WORKS.
GOOD MORNING TO YOU.
I GUESS THE FIRST QUESTION MOST
PEOPLE PROBABLY ASK YOU, IF YOU
CAN WEAR GLOVES, WHY WOULDN’T
YOU?
WHY DO YOU GO WITHOUT THE
PROTECTIVE GEAR?
>> YEAH.
THE BEEKEEPING GEAR IS BIG AND
BULKY, AND I LOSE DEXTERITY AND
MOBILITY, WHICH IS REALLY
IMPORTANT WHEN YOU’RE WORKING
WITH THE TINY CREATURES.
IF I CAN, IT IS MY PREFERENCE TO
WEAR LESS GEAR AS POSSIBLE.
THE BEES LET ME WORK ALONGSIDE
THEM WITHOUT WORKING GEAR.
>> HOW COME YOU’RE NOT GETTING
STUNG ALL THE TIME?
>> RIGHT.
>> HOW IS THIS WORKING?
>> MOST BEES ARE GENTLE AND
DOCILE AND DON’T WANT TO STING
YOU.
I’VE BEEN DOING THIS A LONG
TIME.
I LEARN TO READ THE BEE
BEHAVIOR.
THESE WERE CALM, GENTLE BEES,
ALSO VERY COOPERATIVE AND GOT
INTO THEIR NEW HIVE.
THIS WAS JUST ONE CASE WHERE I
COULD WORK WITHOUT GEAR.
IT WAS SAFER FOR ME AND FOR THE
BEES.
>> ERICA, FORGIVE MY IGNORANCE
HERE, BUT THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF
SPECIES OF BEES.
HOW CAN YOU TELL WHETHER IT IS A
HONEY BEE OR THE KIND OF --
>> A MURDER HORNET.
>> YEAH.
THERE ARE OVER 20,000 SPECIES OF
BEES IN THE WORLD.
YOU KNOW, HONEY BEES LIVE IN
THESE MASSIVE COLONIES.
THE ONE THAT WAS IN THAT SHED
WAS, YOU KNOW, 50, 60,000 BEES.
THEY ALL WORK TOGETHER AS A
SUPER ORGANISM IN THESE GIANT
COLONIES.
IT IS HARD TO DISTINGUISH SOME
BEES FROM OTHER BEES TO FOLKS
WHO MIGHT NOT KNOW, WHICH IS
ALWAYS AN IMPORTANT REASON YOU
SHOULD ALL A PROFESSIONAL
BEEKEEPER IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE
BEES LIVING IN YOUR HOME OR IF
YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT
BEES.
>> ERICA, IF YOU HAD TO
DESCRIBE, AS YOU HAVE, TWO
HEAPING HANDFULS OF BEES IN YOUR
HAND.
DOES IT TICKLE, MAKE YOU
NERVOUS, HURT?
>> IT DOESN’T MAKE ME NERVOUS.
I’VE SEEN COMMENTS ABOUT HOW
CALM I AM, AND I THINK THERE’S
NO OTHER WAY TO BE WHEN YOU’RE
WORKING ALONGSIDE A COLONY OF
BEES OR HOLDING THEM IN YOUR
HAND, WHICH, YOU KNOW, FEELS
INCREDIBLE.
TO HAVE THESE HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS OF TINY INSECTS IN
YOUR HAND.
THEY’RE ALL CLINGING TO EACH
OTHER.
IT’S REALLY AMAZING THAT THEY
LET ME DO THAT.
YOU KNOW, IT FEELS LIKE TRUST
AND ACCEPTANCE, AND I JUST FEEL
SO PRIVILEGED TO BE ABLE TO WORK
WITH THEM.
>> WE’VE ALL SEEN 60 MILLION OF
US WATCHING THIS THING, BUT IS
THIS JUST A NORMAL DAY FOR YOU?
IS THIS JUST A REGULAR DAY AT
THE OFFICE?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
YOU KNOW, THAT WAS A PRETTY
AVERAGE TUESDAY FOR ME.
IT WAS AN ORDINARY DAY ON THE
JOB.
TO SEE EVERYONE’S RESPONSE TO IT
HAS JUST BEEN EXTRAORDINARY.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS YOU DON’T
DO, YOU DO NOT EAT A BANANA
BEFORE YOU GO INTO THE BEE
COLONY.
WHY IS THAT?
>> SO BEES COMMUNICATE THROUGH
PHEROMONES.
THAT’S ONE WAY THEY COMMUNICATE
TO EACH OTHER, THROUGH SCENTS.
THERE IS A SCENT THEY SEND OUT
TO THE COLONY THAT SMELLS LIKE
BANANAS THAT LETS THE COLONY
KNOW IT’S NOT THE QUEEN BEE,
WHICH CAN CAUSE THE COLONY TO BE
A LITTLE MORE AGGRESSIVE.
SO, YOU KNOW, FOR GOOD MEASURE,
I DON’T EAT BANANAS BEFORE I DO
ANY BEEKEEPING, WHICH IS ALMOST
EVERY DAY.
SO I REALLY ONLY EAT BANANAS ON
VACATION.
>> IS IT TRUE, QUICKLY, YOU MET
YOUR HUSBAND ON BUMBLE, IS THAT
TRUE?
>> THAT’S TRUE.
>> OH, MY GOSH.
FUN FACT.
>> ONLY BUMBLE DATE.
I AM THE LUCKIEST PERSON IN THE
WORLD.
HE’S WONDERFUL.
>> HAD TO HAVE BEEN A STING
OPERATION.
>> I HAVE A HUNDRED MORE
QUESTIONS.
>> ERICA, THANK YOU.