If you suspect that you have a bee swarm on your property, the first thing for us to establish is the location and size of the colony. We do this in a number of ways, and we have state of the art equipment to help us.
Firstly we use our human senses:
Sight – there are tell-tale signs of bee occupation, including staining where honey or propolis may have penetrated or dripped through walls or ceilings. Propolis is a resinous mixture that honey bees produce by mixing saliva and beeswax with secretions gathered from tree buds, sap flows, or other botanical sources. It is used as a sealant for unwanted open spaces in the beehive.
Sound – buzzing and humming can sometimes become very loud, especially if the colony is in a chimney or wall cavity which could act as an echo chamber.
Smell – honey and beeswax do give off an aroma, propolis smells like tree resin.
Touch – bee colonies vibrate and it is possible that a hand on the wall may give a clue to the bees’ location.
Once the immediate checks are completed, often using nothing more complex than a torch and binoculars, we may need to progress to more technical equipment.
Thermal imaging will allow us to determine the location and size of the colony (see picture). The main brood will be at a constant 34◦C but the hive could be anything up to four times larger than the image as the honey or wax will not be as warm.
Once the general location of the bees is pinpointed, we can use an endoscope to discover the exact dimensions of the colony. A small hole would be drilled in the plasterboard or wall and the endoscope inserted to determine the extremities of the hive. The size of the hive will give some indication of how long it has been in residence as they can grow up to 1 metre in a year. Hives are often 3 metres square before we are called in.
For colonies that have lodged high up in a building, we have a drone, fully licensed and insured for the purpose. It weighs about 250 grammes and can take aerial shots to locate any entrance points that the bees are using. It can also look down a chimney. This is very helpful in larger properties where there are several chimneys and possible entrance points. This equipment is also very useful for a close up inspection of the roof of the building, in the event of our having to access the hive from the roof. We have to ensure that our operatives would be safe working at height. Another handy gadget is the chimney camera. This clever device can “climb” up inside a chimney or shaft to get a good image of the colony.
If the colony is only accessible from a high point, we will hire a mobile platform or scaffolding to gain access. Speaking of safety, the inspection can also allow us to see where any power and utility channels run and if any of the materials used in construction of the building would be unsafe to handle, eg asbestos. In this event, we would refer the householder/business owner to a specialist for the safe removal before proceeding.
Once we have a clear idea of the situation, we would proceed to remove the colony. This is usually achieved by cutting out part of the wall or brickwork and would normally be completed in one day, including the making-good. If this is not permissible or advisable, for example in a listed building, the alternative is to trap out the bees. This is a much longer process and involves enticing the bees away, whilst blocking up their access points.
If you find a honey bee colony has moved into a part of your property, whether it’s a chimney stack, brick wall or wooden shed, we can help you with safe removal. Our aim wherever possible is to avoid dismantling your home, and to protect the colony.
Lakeside Bee Services offers a range of products and services to support the preservation of bee populations. Our live bee removal services are designed to safely remove bees from unwelcome locations and bring them back to our country garden apiary, where the colony can thrive.
