Bees in Cavity Wall

[HM Honey]

As the title says really. I Know someone who has honey bees in her wall cavity. They are coming out of an air brick just below her sons bedroom window. She first spotted them last year and called out the council. The council looked at them and told her they were honey bees and were protected so they couldnt kill them...

It looks like they are established now because as soon as the weather has improved they are out and about again.

So what are her options?

 

[VEG]

leave them alone

 

[HM Honey]

leave them alone

That was my suggestion but she wants options...

 

[Outlander]

leave them alone

As long as they are not causing any harm leave them.

 

[HM Honey]

As long as they are not causing any harm leave them.

She is worried about them flying into her young sons bedroom if the window is open. The air brick they are using as a front door is directly underneath his window.

 

[VEG]

have they got into the bedroom via the window yet?

 

[HM Honey]

have they got into the bedroom via the window yet?

No, point taken.....

 

[user 6228]

Tell her bees have a very acute idea of where their home is, so much so that you cant move a hive more than 3ft.

 

[beeno]

Sorry guys, but ...
not everyone loves bees and I don't think I would want them at that close quarters myself. Honey bees are not a protected species and therefore the council has to arrange to have them exterminated by a pest control person as in this instance they are a nuisance.

 

[VEG]

sorry but the council does not HAVE to arrange to have them exterminated.

How are they a nuisance if they havent caused any nuisance?

 

[Swarm]

Agree with VEG here, they don't seem to have been a nuisance and their entrance appears to be up out of the way, so why interfere with them? Better for her son to watch and study them, he could afterall claim they are 'his' bees.

My future son-in-law had a feral colony in his bedroom where he worked in Australia! But he's a beekeeper so shared the room with them.

 

[J.M.Learner]

I think the word that is missing is 'yet' - they haven't caused a nuisance yet. With summer hopefully on its way and the bees building up strength, chances are that they may, especially to someone who clearly doesn't want them there in the first place (which i guess warrants them as a nuisance in itself.) I don't like the idea of them being exterminated either. I would suggest if you do finally manage to get the council over with an exterminator, make sure they seal the hole up after...

 

[TOBY-3652]

]Sorry guys, but ...
not everyone loves bees and I don't think I would want them at that close quarters myself. Honey bees are not a protected species and therefore the council has to arrange to have them exterminated by a pest control person as in this instance they are a nuisance

 

[VEG]

most council's wont exterminate bees, I dont think there are many pest controllers that will do it now either would you kill them toby?

 

[HM Honey]

This is taken off the rentokil website:

How to get rid of bees safely and relocate them

Bees are highly beneficial to our environment and some species such as the honey bee are under attack by the varroa mite, which has destroyed most wild bees with only Bee Keepers safeguarding remaining colonies. The natural habitat of the bumble bee continues to disappear, with a significant decline in recent decades.
Bees should not be killed and nests should be left undisturbed whenever possible. If a bees nest represents a very high risk (such as a nest within the home, school, hospital or near those who are allergic to Bee stings), the nest can be removed and relocated to a safe area by a professional Bee Keeper.

Rentokil will only treat a bees nest or colony as the very last resort, if it is considered a serious threat to people and with honey bees only after contacting a qualified Bee Keeper.

 

[VEG]

In this instance the nest was there last year and no mention of any bees entering the house or causing a nuisance so no serious threat.

 

[Russel]

Life's full of oddities and ironies, here we are discussing should we shouldn't we kill off a colony that's managed to get this far; when we're all " woe is me'ing" about winter bee survival or the lack there of. Other than the fact they may become a nuisance maybe you could nip down to Lidl and get one of their £2.49 insect screens for the window; then she and her son could see how things develop?
You'll also have plenty left for veil replacement?

Russell

 

[HM Honey]

And from my local council website:

If the swarm is inaccessible (e.g. within a chimney or wall cavity) and accessing your property it may be necessary to destroy them. However, this is a last resort and should only be done professionally. This is partly because honey from a treated nest can attract other bees. If this contaminated honey is taken to other hives it could kill them, leaving you open to prosecution.

Leeds City Council do not offer a service for the treatment of bees as we recommend that these beneficial insects should be left alone. If you have any concerns or would like further information please contact 0113 222 4406.

 

[HM Honey]

Life's full of oddities and ironies, here we are discussing should we shouldn't we kill off a colony that's managed to get this far; when we're all " woe is me'ing" about winter bee survival or the lack there of. Other than the fact they may become a nuisance maybe you could nip down to Lidl and get one of their £2.49 insect screens for the window; then she and her son could see how things develop?
You'll also have plenty left for veil replacement?

Russell

I have already suggested putting a screen over the window and I think she is going to do that. To be honest, I think its more her that has the problem than anything else. From what she says, the son sits watching them on his windowsill...

 

[Swarm]

Brilliant. Something fascinating for the little one study and far better than gadget driven entertainment. Maybe get him a nice little book that explains what goes on in the hive and what bees do?


Edit: Tell him if he's lucky he may see them swarm, that's something he'll remember forever. Ofc assuring mum that you'll sort that one out, no problem.