- Joined
- Jan 12, 2009
- Messages
- 2,141
- Reaction score
- 1,078
- Location
- Newburyish
- Hive Type
- National
- Number of Hives
- 6
Problem:
A Colony of bees has inhabited an area either behind wall tiles or under a felted flat roof. (first floor roof – about 15 to 20 feet up) Entrance is between soffit and wall cladding tiles. Tiles are terracotta. Top row is attached above soffit. Entrance is about 300mm long, about 3 tiles wide. Colony has only recently arrived (last few days), although the space has been intermittently occupied for the last ten years or so. Access from either ceiling space or internal walls is not possible.
The bees are somewhat aggressive and grandchildren are coming to stay in the nearish future. The owners have been stung.
Options:
Cut-out
Due to the fastening of the top row of tiles being above the soffit, removal of the tiles would not be possible without removal of the soffit. The soffit could not be removed without significant damage. This seems to preclude a cut-out.
Trap-out
A bait hive could be positioned on the flat roof above the entrance. The entrance could potentially be reduced using duct tape and lath to a size where a porter escape could be fitted. Given the age of the building, the bees may discover other entries/exits. The time scale of a trap-out may preclude this unless the bees can be encouraged to move faster, possibly smoke? I do not have spare frames of brood close enough to add to the bait hive.
Trap-in
A trap-in has the advantage of being able to locate and block alternative entrances/exits. It may be possible to use CO2 to flood the compartment to bring about the quick demise of the colony, without poison.
Either a trap-in or a trap-out has the disadvantage of potentially leaving comb and honey in situ, which may cause problems in the future.
Final option is commercial pest control with un-known methods, probably poison, followed by builder with caulking gun…I suspect that not all entrances would be found and either robbing or later re-inhabitation would occur.
Does anyone have any views on how to proceed? I have a day or so to come to a conclusion.
Thanks in advance,
Roche
A Colony of bees has inhabited an area either behind wall tiles or under a felted flat roof. (first floor roof – about 15 to 20 feet up) Entrance is between soffit and wall cladding tiles. Tiles are terracotta. Top row is attached above soffit. Entrance is about 300mm long, about 3 tiles wide. Colony has only recently arrived (last few days), although the space has been intermittently occupied for the last ten years or so. Access from either ceiling space or internal walls is not possible.
The bees are somewhat aggressive and grandchildren are coming to stay in the nearish future. The owners have been stung.
Options:
Cut-out
Due to the fastening of the top row of tiles being above the soffit, removal of the tiles would not be possible without removal of the soffit. The soffit could not be removed without significant damage. This seems to preclude a cut-out.
Trap-out
A bait hive could be positioned on the flat roof above the entrance. The entrance could potentially be reduced using duct tape and lath to a size where a porter escape could be fitted. Given the age of the building, the bees may discover other entries/exits. The time scale of a trap-out may preclude this unless the bees can be encouraged to move faster, possibly smoke? I do not have spare frames of brood close enough to add to the bait hive.
Trap-in
A trap-in has the advantage of being able to locate and block alternative entrances/exits. It may be possible to use CO2 to flood the compartment to bring about the quick demise of the colony, without poison.
Either a trap-in or a trap-out has the disadvantage of potentially leaving comb and honey in situ, which may cause problems in the future.
Final option is commercial pest control with un-known methods, probably poison, followed by builder with caulking gun…I suspect that not all entrances would be found and either robbing or later re-inhabitation would occur.
Does anyone have any views on how to proceed? I have a day or so to come to a conclusion.
Thanks in advance,
Roche