Should I move my bees?

[Levitt53]

Someone has posted on our local association Facebook page that there is a colony in a chimney that a pest controller killed possibly using vicam D and the nest wasn’t sealed. It’s less than a mile from me and I think the one I was asked about a few weeks ago. She is advising beekeepers to move their hives in case any bees rob the nest. Someone else on the site who I know by reputation has said not to worry as lots else about. Her husband is a pest controller as has viewed the area from the ground. He doesn’t know what they have used and I don’t know what vicam D is. I’ve literally just got home from holiday so really don’t want to have to move my bees. Any thoughts?

 

[Millet]

Someone has posted on our local association Facebook page that there is a colony in a chimney that a pest controller killed possibly using vicam D and the nest wasn’t sealed. It’s less than a mile from me and I think the one I was asked about a few weeks ago. She is advising beekeepers to move their hives in case any bees rob the nest. Someone else on the site who I know by reputation has said not to worry as lots else about. Her husband is a pest controller as has viewed the area from the ground. He doesn’t know what they have used and I don’t know what vicam D is. I’ve literally just got home from holiday so really don’t want to have to move my bees. Any thoughts?

Ficam (D) Dry or Ficam (w) Wet is lethal to anything other than mammals, both are Bendiocarb products, which can stay active(kill) for around fourteen days after administered , it is a good product but bad for us.. 50/50 on whether to move your bees or not, put the lottery on and see what happens .

 

[Levitt53]

Ha ha yes. Also it is only be chance that I found about this so i’m going to sit tight with my fingers crossed.

 

[Hachi]

I understood Ficam D knock down is instant (Never used the stuff so no direct experience) so ha being the case, you'd never know.

 

[Millet]

I understood Ficam D knock down is instant (Never used the stuff so no direct experience) so ha being the case, you'd never know.

It is fairly quick knockdown when sprayed directly onto something, with Ficam W (wet) in a spray bottle any surface that has been sprayed is still active, which means anything that touches the sprayed surface is doomed, i have done the chicken sheds with it several times over the years for red mite control, and the amount of dazed critters goes on for days afterwards,not sure how it affects bees though or if they can fly when contaminated.

 

[sean-a]

If it knocks them down then it shouldnt be a problem.
It's only if they get to fly back to the hive and tell their chums where to go robbing that there is a problem!

 

[MartinL]

there is a colony in a chimney that a pest controller killed possibly using vicam D and the nest wasn’t sealed. . . . . . . . .

He doesn’t know what they have used. . . . . . . . . . Any thoughts?

Who is the "Pest controller", why don't you contact him?

Do you know the exact location?

Was it an established "Colony" or swarm?
If it was an established colony why did the chimney owner suddenly decide to destroy it this year, (has it given too many swarms)?

 

[Levitt53]

Who is the "Pest controller", why don't you contact him? I don’t know and neither does the person who put it on Facebook. Her partner is a pest controller and this is what he says from viewing it. You know Facebook!

Do you know the exact location? I think so as it sounds like the swarm I was asked about.

Was it an established "Colony" or swarm? If it’s the one I know about then it was a swarm who had been there for about 3 weeks.

If it was an established colony why did the chimney owner suddenly decide to destroy it this year, (has it given too many swarms)?

The chimney is used in the winter so I had advised her that I couldn’t stay there as it’s a fire risk. We tried to smoke it out but by the time I heard about it it had been there 3 days.

Obviously it might not be the one I know about but I suspect it is. Vague location, timing etc fits. Anyway I haven’t move my bees and it seems like I don’t need to worry. Thanks all.