Honey Bee Structural Removal

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As a precautionary measure, Jeffrey will conduct an inspection to confirm that a removal is necessary. An active honey bee colony appears like a bustling airport on a warm and sunny afternoon. You can observe bees returning with visible pollen on their legs. Throughout the day, bees can be seen circling or hovering in front of their entry point, which is their way of orienting themselves to the sun.

Removing a live honey bee colony is a more precise process that helps pinpoint the exact location of the nest. Jeffrey can closely monitor the bees moving through the cavity and effectively identify and seal any openings. In most cases, the removal process is completed on the same day.

An effective structural honey bee removal ideally involves extracting the bees and their brood nest along with the honeycomb. This approach reduces the risk of attracting pests such as moths or mice and helps prevent re-infestation. Before closing the cavity, it is best to ensure that it is rendered uninhabitable. Most often, you will receive a written warranty against the bees rebuilding in the same location. Exterior gaps are sealed with latex or paint-ready caulk, depending on the situation. Jeffrey prefers to relocate the colony and re-establish it to preserve the population rather than resorting to extermination.

Accessing the Colony: Examples

Removal from the outside

When the colony is confined to an enclosed section of the structure on the outer walls, exterior entrances are sealed with high-quality, paint-ready caulk whenever feasible. Touch-up paint can be applied to the reassembled structure to cover any blemishes. However, some outer walls won’t be sealed as part of this work due to the extensive gaps—for instance, against a stone façade. Removing bees from the outside works well to prevent opening walls or ceilings inside the structure.

Removal By opening the floor

Bees can build their nests in the spaces between the floors of a structure. Sometimes, the cavity is not accessible from the outside. In such cases, the carpet is pulled back, and the subfloor is cut open whenever possible. The floor is then closed, and the carpet is reinstalled. However, the carpet may require the assistance of a third party to be re-stretched. This method is effective in preventing the need for drywall ceiling repairs.

Removal by opening an inside wall or ceiling

Walls or ceilings that are opened are closed when at all possible. Drywall screws are used to reattach the drywall. Whenever feasible, an initial joint compound coating is applied to any drywall entry points to seal them and prevent any remaining bees from entering the living space as they dissipate. All subsequent work to the initial coat over drywall joints is expected to be performed by a third party and is not included in the scope of work. A referral can be provided to a finish taper and painter.

Removal by opening a roof

When removal necessitates opening roofing shingles, the structure is opened to gain access. In most cases, an asphalt roof will settle back down and look like nothing happened. However, some worn shingles may not return to their exactly perfect original shape but are functional when felt paper is laid underneath.  Accessing colonies under concrete or slate tile roofs is done on a case-by-case basis, and third-party involvement may be necessary depending on the complexity of the project.

Bee-Proofing, Sealing Gaps

Once a honeybee colony has been established, remnant smells cannot be eliminated. Future honeybee scouts may explore the structure to find a suitable place to live. Bee-proofing the structure is advisable. This involves sealing any potential entry gaps larger than 1/8 inch. We can undertake this work at an additional cost. If the structure cannot be secured, we recommend applying future spring pest treatments.

Preventing bees from rebuilding, Without Sealing

Treating annual infestations in the spring with a low-mammalian toxicity insecticide prevents future infestations. During swarm season, the insecticide eliminates individual scouts that repeatedly explore nesting sites. This approach is more cost-effective because we typically use it to protect against insects like carpenter bees, wasps, mud daubers, and spiders from infesting areas where honeybees also enter the structure.

Reasons to perform a Live Honeybee Removal

· An attempt is made to save the colony and relocate it.

· Insecticides can kill neighborhood honeybee colonies as they rob out an empty nest.

· It is best to relocate the entire colony and contents from a structure when possible. *

(Honeybees often store around 40 pounds of honey and pollen to survive the winter, and can store 100+ pounds, given enough space.)

*Horror Stories:
Honeycomb left in a cavity is often home to wax moth larvae that feed and emerge as moths. Jeffrey's encountered a customer in Topeka who had a colony euthanized in a wall void behind a modular shower. Hundreds of moths were emerging and entering their house. Cleaning out the decomposing nest resolved the moth problem.

A brand new swarm of bees typically consists of between 10,000 and 15,000 bees, weighing 3 to 5 pounds. In contrast, an average dead stinking squirrel in a wall weighs 1.5 pounds. As a honeybee colony establishes itself, the nest can weigh 25 to 100 pounds or more. A few weeks after one of Jeffrey's partners euthanized a colony in a roof overhang above a window boxout, the family was experiencing what is commonly associated with a decomposing dead smell inside their house. Jeffrey cleaned out a decomposing mass and used a Bienzymatic cleaner to help abate any residual odor.

A customer called with honey running down the walls. It was pooling at the baseboards and forming a sticky web of carpet below a south-facing window boxout roof overhang. Jeffrey removed pounds of honey and comb.

A Church Board Member had also called in with honey-stained ceilings, and Jeffrey removed pounds of honey from the ceiling.

Calls us for and estimate.