trap out in column

[shughes]

A swarm of bees took residence in my church's column on Friday. By the time I got there I estimated they had probably been there for a couple hours as the last softball size clump was still working their way in. Cutting them out would be a job as the entrance hole is 30 feet high and I don't know exactly where they are located within the column...they could be above or within that column section and the column itself is a good two inches thick.

I was considering trying a trap out. In general, would the trap out duration be reduced the quicker I get a bait hive and cone escape in place? That seems like a logical assumption since there would not be as much brood to 'wait' to emerge. Any advice from the trap/cut-out experts?

[suprstakr]

Yes , the sooner the better , they are not established yet and no comb built , might entice the queen out .

[iddee]

A few squirts of bee-quick and a screen funnel will have her out within a few days. If they moved in Friday, there are no larva. Maybe eggs, maybe not.
The longer you wait, the longer she waits.

[JaiPea]

Anything you do will require 'damaging' the column, be it even a small hole, and working at 30' can hazardous, so consider the alternatives in order of your safety and likelihood of success:

a) leave them alone
b) call exterminator
c) plug the entrance
d) install one-way
e) use fumes

Both b) and c) involve death so neither is a good choice.

On e) the bees will have started comb at the highest point within the column, but since you do not know the interior construction that can be difficult to determine. All fume alternatives are heavier than air and what you use to try and drive them out will have to be at the 'top' of the column, wherever that is. Moth crystals are the cheapest and most repugnant to bees so introducing a large bag of them is one candidate. Bee Quick is an expensive alternative, but is the only fume product you should use (the others smell bad and the smell lingers so parishioners will not appreciate it). My success rate with fumes has been zero unless the cavity is confined (like the air vent to a stove).

As for d) installing a bait hive at 30' won't be easy and since the primary purpose here is to get the bees out not capture them, you want to create the conditions for absconding. The queen won't lay eggs unless there is pollen and nectar coming in. After the initial resources are used the bees cannot draw more comb so by preventing foragers from returning the colony can't build much of a nest.

You will have to pay close attention to whether the bees can gain entrance somewhere other than the original entry point. A single one-way cone is prone to being blocked by a larger bee, drone, or dying bee leaving the nest so you should provide multiple exits. The best one-ways are stainless steel mesh sold by BetterBee (CONES1/CONES2). A length of 3" ABS with cones over 3/4" holes works well and on a flat surface you can use a 3" toilet flange over the access hole. It will be more difficult to install on the column surface.

Since bees are not likely to be a problem with an entrance that is 30' up, why not go for a) and simply leave them there?

[Walliebee]

[QUOTE=shughes;304802]A swarm of bees took residence in my church's column on Friday. QUOTE]

Is this the same church that had the bees a year or so back that were in the bell tower? If so, there must be a strong parent hive pretty close by.

[shughes]

the very same column and the same entrance hole. I was actually surprised the bees left last year. Kind of wondering if it was due to the heat last year..one of the hottest and dry years on record.

there are a lot of feral hives in the area around the church. I have a couple swarm traps up but an old nest is much more attractive then my 5/10 frame boxes. our church records show that the bees have been in that column for over 30 years.