I need to get rid of a huge hive of honeybees living inside my attic under the eves without killing them all?
January 30th, 2009 | by beekeeper |
walkathisway asked:
Any ideas on how to move the bees into a new hive?
I live in Miami, 5 months ago honeybees (not hybrids of Africans) took up residence inside my attic. They gain entry from a small diameter eve vent hole. (I have a barrel tile roof). The hive is in the eve and is now about 4 feet wide, hanging from rafters.
I do not wish to kill the bees. All beekeepers I have spoken to want to exterminate or cut giant holes in my ceilings. Also I cannot find a beekeeper willing to crawl on his/her belly in my attic and cut out the hive.
I was told that oil of almond (artificial acetaldehyde) deters them. I tried this, but they loved it.
I am looking for a humane (bee-friendly) method to make them leave. After they leave I will plug up the eve vent holes so they don’t return, and find a very small person (possible a family of garden dwarfs, Ha!) who will crawl in my attic and eat the honey. (Then I might be writing to you asking how to get rid of dwarfs in my attic, Ha!)
Seriously
beekeeper
Any ideas on how to move the bees into a new hive?
I live in Miami, 5 months ago honeybees (not hybrids of Africans) took up residence inside my attic. They gain entry from a small diameter eve vent hole. (I have a barrel tile roof). The hive is in the eve and is now about 4 feet wide, hanging from rafters.
I do not wish to kill the bees. All beekeepers I have spoken to want to exterminate or cut giant holes in my ceilings. Also I cannot find a beekeeper willing to crawl on his/her belly in my attic and cut out the hive.
I was told that oil of almond (artificial acetaldehyde) deters them. I tried this, but they loved it.
I am looking for a humane (bee-friendly) method to make them leave. After they leave I will plug up the eve vent holes so they don’t return, and find a very small person (possible a family of garden dwarfs, Ha!) who will crawl in my attic and eat the honey. (Then I might be writing to you asking how to get rid of dwarfs in my attic, Ha!)
Seriously
beekeeper
5 Responses to “I need to get rid of a huge hive of honeybees living inside my attic under the eves without killing them all?”
By gromit801 on Jan 30, 2009 | Reply
Keep trying to find a bee keeper that will work with you. Honeybees in this country are becoming scarce!
Also check with the local colleges for an entymologist that will help you out.
By greg w on Jan 31, 2009 | Reply
My grandparents had a large hive of bees build in their wall once and they went through the same thing pretty much. My Great-grandfather, was a bee-keeper, so it all worked well, with him taking them out.
The thing is, that he cut their wall out, and I think you should too. The reason is more than being humane to the bees and has to do with your house.
That many bees make more of a mess than you’d think. You should go in there and look to repair any damage so that you don’t get an ugly surprise in a few years.
It’s not that big a deal to repair drywall or ceilings, I’d just do it and have a beekeeper come and get the whole hive and take it away.
I got picked to crawl in and get some of the honey for my grandparents, after the bees were gone, and it wasn’t something I’d wish on the nastiest garden dwarf.
By shovelbum_mud_lover on Feb 1, 2009 | Reply
I’m just writing to weigh in with the above poster, Greg.
I’m afraid that if you want to get rid of those honeybees without hurting them, you’re going to have to accept having holes cut in your ceilings. It sucks but it’s the best alternative you have.
By flashlight_lady on Feb 3, 2009 | Reply
At first my suggestion would be to smoke them out, but after reading the other posts, that may not be the way to go. You should deal with a beekeeper, if you don’t do things the right way, you will have more problems than you want, like Ants comming for the honey. A beekeeper with remove it all not just the bees. If you have to have work done, it is not that bad you can do it yourself or have someone come in and do it for you, but if decide to have a contractor do the work, check them the local BBB office. People that live in Florida have been ripped off by alot of contractors. Never sign a contract without checking with the BBB, including the beekeeper.
By Me2 on Feb 5, 2009 | Reply
I don’t know where you live, but why not try to contact a college. I live in NJ and Rutgers University has a division for bugs and stuff. They might even come and get the hive.
Also have you tried calling the board of health? Maybe they have a suggestion.
Put an add in the paper for a bee keeper. See what happens.
If you are really bold you may want to contact a tv station. Usually when things like that hit the air waves, somebody comes running. If not for the fun of it, then for the publicity.
I think I would try smoking them out. Do it in the morning when most of them have left the hive. Keep the smoke going for as long as you can. Then close up the holes in the house. You may kill a few but it won’t be a mass murder.
Good luck.