Removing Honey Bee Nests from Structures |
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![]() A good bee hive removal job entails several trips to the site and considerable time and effort. While the bees have some value, most beekeepers will not consider nest removal unless they are compensated. Repair to the structure will be necessary in most cases after nest removal. Responsibility for structural repairs should be agreed upon before the job is begun. Nest removal should not be attempted by new beekeepers without the assistance of an experienced mentor.
Honey bee nests can be destroyed prior to removal, and nest destruction often is the safest, quickest and easiest way to eliminate the problem. It is important to exterminate a colony when all bees are in the nest (dawn or dusk). If colonies are destroyed during daylight, many foragers will be in the field and can return to cause problems. The best season to destroy problem nests is in the early spring when stored food reserves and colony population are lowest.
The first step is to locate the nest, which often extends several feet from the entrance. Toxins applied at the entrance frequently fail to eliminate nests and may result in highly defensive bees. Occasionally, entrance treatments result in bees creating new entrances which open inside the structure. Nests can be located by placing a stethoscope to the wall and tapping. Bees will respond to the tapping with an elevated level of buzzing. Toxins can be introduced by drilling several holes in the wall at or above the nest site. In some cases, combs may be reached by inserting a flexible tube through the entrance and into the nest.
Call Vanish Pest Control to arrange for one of our Bay Area bee removal experts to come help you.
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