Where are the bees? Cutout advice sought

[Andrew Dewey]

After removing sheet rock and drilling holes in floors without finding the bees living in my house I'm taking a step back to think things through.

I can see clearly where the bees enter/exit the house. It is behind/under a trim board (probably rotting) in a corner where a stick built addition was attached to a brick house. The bee entrance is about 16' high - above a bathroom window on the 2nd floor of the original brick structure.

I had thought the bees had somehow passed through the brick wall and gotten into the original house. A stethoscope from the local drug store led me to believe the bees were behind a tub/shower unit. I no longer think so.

Long story short - after trying to find the bees from the attic (removing sheet rock, drilling holes in the floor) I'm convinced the bees are in the addition somewhere.

I've got a call into our state apiarist for his advice, but in the meantime I'm planning on working from the entrance - removing trim and shingles (cedar) as needed until I get a clearer picture of where the little darlings have got themselves to. At least once it stops raining.

And while I'm ok by myself on a ladder, I wouldn't want to be trying to work a bee vac up there.

Thoughts? Advice? I want this episode to be over with soon!

[carbide]

My suggestion would be to get a new hose for your bee vac. I have two for mine, the one is about 8 feet long and the other is a 20 foot hose that I purchased at Lowe's. Neither one of them kill many bees when I do a cut-out as long as there are no sharp bends in them.

[BigDaddyDS]

I'm having a litle trouble envisioning what you're dealing with, but I agree that you need to start at the entrance and work back, instead of drilling holes and tearing out drywall blindly.

One of the tools that really helped me pinpoint where the bees are (and how large the cluster is) is a touchless, infrared thermometer. I aim the gun-shaped device, and the laser tells me where the bees are, while I watch the thermometer for temperature variations +/-10 degrees. Satisfyingly accurate.

Either purchase one (They're around $60 bucks, full priced, from a discount tool seller.) or borrow one from someone who has one.

DS

[Andrew Dewey]

Found them!

Tony Jadczack, the world's best state apiarist, suggested using a small diameter bit and drilling (careful of electrical hazards) holes in suspected sites until I found wax and/or honey on the bit. A quick trip to the hardware store and I acquired a foot long 3/16" bit. My second hole found the girls on an interior wall not far from the entrance.

Knowing now which wall studs they are between I'm going to cut out a section of sheet rock and have at them. When I'm done I will caulk the entrance, sealing it for good!

The advantage of the small bit is that 1) it leaves a hole easy to patch and 2) bees can't fit through the hole.

He advised me to smoke them from the outside but not to remove any trim/shingles until I'm sealing the entrance.

All systems go for tomorrow afternoon! Good thoughts welcome and appreciated!