Maybe he is a professional landscaper. I've known a number of people who worked in that field over the years, and being stoned at all times is part of the job description.
This isn't a hive, these bees are swarming. Because they don't have anything to defend right now they won't be aggressive unless you do something stupid like spraying them with something. So this guy is actually an expert.
I'm not moved by his cavalier "She's in here" in reference to the queen. If the queen isn't in there, then both the bees in the box and the ones left on the branch are goners.