Finally rid of my Bee Problem

I had a honey bee problem a couple of years ago, that had to be professionally exterminated after I tried in vain to rid my house of them.

A few weeks ago, I noticed a small swarm returning to the previous spot, and thought I could get them before they really developed. I kept sprayin, and more kept coming. I finally hired a removal expert to go after the hive.

This is what was found behind the wall.

He said at one time, it most likely was home for 30-40,000 bees.

I wish I hadn't sprayed though, as he said the honey would have been delicious.

Chris

A couple of years ago in late Spring some bees began swarming. I found them in a stack of large clay pots in the yard. In one week they had completely filled about a 30-gallon clay pot with comb.

Well, I chased them off and they went across the street to the neighbor's. I immediately warned the neighbor lady and she said she wasn't worried. Her home is on a steep hillside and the bees went under the house and into a knot hole. We could look up and see where they were entering and leaving but she said let them be.

Three months later the noise was deafening and she had to pay a fortune to an exterminator to remove 1500 pounds of honey and comb.

-Ron-

I don't know if this will be of any help or not: bees do not like the cooking spray,"Pam". I've been spraying it on my hummingbird feeder and will keep the bees off for about one week.

If you find another swarm hanging around, try calling a beekeeper/hobbyist. They will often come and collect the swarm for free. It will save you some $'s vs the exterminator, and will save the honeybee population.

Wow! What an incredible picture!
I guess the noise would be a factor as I would have said let them be too.
Live and learn thru others!

Without the bees and their related relatives most of the food production in the world would come to a grinding halt so think twice before you kill them. For the bees to make that much honey they would have to make millions and millions of visits to flowers. What a shame to destroy them. LIZ

Wow. A lot of interesting responses.

I tried everywhere, and believe me I would have much rather had them removed for free by a beekeeper, than spent the $500 some odd dollars it took to have them removed, excluding the time and cost of me having to put that wall back together.

I guess I could have let them stay, but I don't think my wife would have, as she seemed to have a real aversion to doing laundry with 100's of bees flying in the laundry room. That's the interior of that wall you see cut away.

Sorry folks, but when the choice is save a bee colony, or protect the safety of family, I'll chose family.

Chris

That's the only choice you can make when family is at risk. (but that honey woulda been 'sweet' too!) :)