Colony Removal

[djuniorfan8]

Hey folks,
Got a nice call while i was at work yesterday. Lady tells me she has Bees in the wall of her house, been their for 2 years. She wants them removed because they,ve been hanging on the side "bearding" and she's now scared the neighborhood kids will get stung! I told her i could come by the next day and take a look just make sure nobody will be throwing rocks at them before i get there, she agreed, Ok great! Couple of hours later she calls again and says for me not to come out, that she is going to call an exterminator ( **** it!) I convince here that the exterminator may not kill all the bees. Also that the comb its self will be left and it could seep and start to mildew the walls not to mention entice more bees to take up residency. I threw the benificial insect lecture and gave her the run down on CCD. She said that I sounded so passionate about them that she wouldn't call the exterminator and I could come get them.
So I am off to buy a new battery powered circular saw and am bringing my new rookie Firefighter to assist me in the extraction ( I'm gonna use it as Building Construction training for him. The boy just turned 21! he's stoked about this.)
I'll let you know how it turns out. Hopefully it's not a bunch of Yellow-Jackets.
-Tim

[beecron]

Wow, a new use for the cub other than mopping the floor and waxing the apparatus...what a great idea!

I'm not sure the exterminator would have killed them anyway. I think they are on the endangered species list and it's illegal to exterminate them. Maybe someone else would know that one for sure.

[Lucus76]

no they are not on the list yet, However I have managed to convince the exterminators in my area that they are. another good selling point; If the ext. comes and actually is successful. they will never get rid of the ants that follow.

[djuniorfan8]

Guy's we have a problem! The house is 2 stories with the lower half Brick veneer (?). They appear to be in the void between the Brick and the wall, about an inch wide. There might have been about 50 - 100 bees at the entrance area, not all that much. The only way i can think of getting them out would bee through the interior wall, that or take down the mason work. I've never done trapping, so i'm not sure if that would bee the way to go either. This is a tough one! Any ideas would be appreciated.
-Tim

[RonS]

Trapping would not remove the hive, so your main selling point would not be met. Suggest that the homeowner decide on the exterior or interior. You would still have to remove the exterior sheathing unless the brick was more than just a facade. I have been getting quite a few of these calls lately, but have either referred them to some specialists that I know or turned down the job directly.

[iddee]

Hate to burst your bubble, but they are NOT in a 1 inch wide space. They may be traveling a good distance to find a void, but they did find one. You need to go in with a stethoscope or thermometer and find their location before tearing into the lady's house. It's unusual, but they could be 15 to 20 feet from the entrance.

A trap-out will remove the colony. Then a colony will remove the honey. All that will be left is the wax. The ants will not be a big problem with only wax remaining.

[db_land]

It's very unlikely that the hive is between the brick and the sheathing - that's too narrow even for bees to make a decent hive. Odds are they found a way thru the sheathing and are in the wall behind the sheetrock (between 2 wall studs). Another possibility is in the ceiling: the bees go up and over the inside wall top-plate and build the hive between ceiling joists. I use an old stethoscope to help find them. Sometimes you can use you hand to feel the warmth of the cluster or use a infra-red heat thermometer.

[kayakdg]

Hi, I did about 20 bee evictions last season and at least 4 were in ceilings [between kitchen ceiling and bedroom floor] Those little girls make it chalanging job at times. Once you have a good idea were they are a three inch hole saw is a important tool. Once you have the hole cut a mirror and a flash lite gives you a better idea what you are getting into. If you are wrong a 3 inch hole is easy to patch. use the plug from the hole saw and some spackel Good Luck Dan

[riverrat]

first I hope you are getting payed to do this job. She would have to pay the exterminator if she is able to find one that will even spray them. I would study up some more before you dive in. A lot of time the bees may not necessarily be where they are entering. I sure would hate to see you knock a bunch of un-needed holes in the wall of the house trying to find them.

[beyondthesidewalks]

I"ll bet they're in the ceiling between the two floors. I think that bees like the space between floors because it's nice and warm in the winter time. When I see bees entering a house in the space between floors it seems they are always in the ceiling joists. A screen cone on the entrance would be the easiest but most time consuming way to get the bees and honey. To get the bees you're going to have to do some carpentry. Good luck!

[djuniorfan8]

Thanks for the opinions,

I'm gonna agree that their probably not between the brick. They did appear to be going in and down, so i don't think the hive is in the ceiling. I'm gonna make a visit with a thermal imager and a heat-gun. She did say she found a few dead bees inside her den, the interior wall is likely.
About the price? She is attempting to sell this house, which is the majority of her concern. She told me " Come up with a price." and " what ever it takes to get the job done."
I usually just perform easy cut outs and swarm collections, no fee. I have no idea how to even price this!

[beyondthesidewalks]

Time and material is your best bet. See if you can get her to agree to this. If not, walk away and maybe she'll reconsider.

[iddee]

I have a base rate of $300.00 and vary that according to the complexity of the removal, and the customer's attitude, and ability to pay. A few on here charge $100.00 an hour. Some of them have a minimum of 3 hours.

[JP]

Thanks for the opinions,

I'm gonna agree that their probably not between the brick. They did appear to be going in and down, so i don't think the hive is in the ceiling. I'm gonna make a visit with a thermal imager and a heat-gun. She did say she found a few dead bees inside her den, the interior wall is likely.
About the price? She is attempting to sell this house, which is the majority of her concern. She told me " Come up with a price." and " what ever it takes to get the job done."
I usually just perform easy cut outs and swarm collections, no fee. I have no idea how to even price this!

Without even seeing it, I will venture to guess that they are between the celing joists. But, of course you will first determine exactly where the colony is located before preceeding forward, right?

Did you ask her how long the bees have been there? If they have ever been sprayed? Tampered with, of any kind?

Don't know the going rate in your area, but I would get at least $300.00 for a job like this. If you remove them and put everything back, $450.00-$500.00 is not ridiculous.

Are you up for this? Think things through, do a neat job, and don't forget to beeproof the area when you're done. And have fun!


...JP