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As you have the instantvap why not try treating one colony and seeing what the drop is like, you may be surprisingly pleased - or horrified! I'd also buy in a lifetime's supply of OA as soon as possible as sourcing it seems to be becoming problematic.

Only applies to over 65s without long term stable disability like cerebral palsy. I don't hit that age yet but reckon a score of 3 isn't too bad - you just need to lift supers all year round to be a 2! Clincal frailty score 1. Very fit People who are robust, active, energetic and motivated...

Make half-size supers with just a thin ply side one against the other?

Unite would be my vote, stops production of dodgy drones & leaves a big colony to prepare for winter.

Leave the keyhole open, move and seal up the brood frames and leave a wasp trap where the frames were.

I'm in Glossop so not too far away, I'm away at the moment which is why I haven't replied esrlier but back by the 19th at latest. If you need a hand at that point let me know.

I'm away but mine appears to have been delivered - 5kg Edit: I can no longer find it on their website 😕

Edit - already answered!

I can't see why you would want to! All the eggs will be drone.

You could spin out the uncapped deep frames, use the resultant empty box to house the bees, and feed the extracted honey back to the bees if more than 20% water.

Do the trebles all need 3? I'd see if there are a few frames empty or full of stores & remove them to free up a brood chamber or two, then move the developing colony into them - assuming a spare floor & roof or the ability to bodge some. Keep the frames of stores for winter feed or extract them.

Trap out needs the nearby hive for them to enter

A "trap out" is one option (do a search on here). There was a post in here recently re Wasps nests which suggested the vacuum over some hours, I don't know how well it would work for bees though I suspect it would take longer. If you manage to get them out you could cover the entrance with queen...

My spacing is narrow (sn4 frames), I've been considering widening them.

Seems an awful lot from 1 super if it's a national shallow!! I usually get 8-10kg (17-22lb).

I would agree! And if you have a good opportunity to acquire bees now I would do. It's only the start of August, I would expect even a swarm to be able to build up for winter still (though I get flows quite late), let alone a good sized nuc.

Interestingly looking at the home office website it only specifies oxalic acid 10%w/v as controlled, so (although probably not intended) technically the crystals may not be! Just make sure you don't dilute it to that concentration!

The version I've heard/read was: "Swarming in July - let the buggers fly!" This would imply not worth catching, but I think the rhyme dates back to the days of skep beekeeping, so rather different.

Yes they are honey bees. How long ago did they arrive? It can be a big job to remove them, if they are getting into the house by dropping down the chimney then blocking that up and living with them is an option. You don't say where you are but it may be worth getting in touch with your local...

Whereabouts are you? Arkansas USA? Oxford UK?