Any apiologists out there? Options

[JoeZ]

We are currently parked in the midwest in a large field with lots of grass and clover. There are a lot of honeybees around (a good thing). The problem is that they have evidently decided that buiding a hive under the coarse fiberglass coating on the rear of the motorhome basement storage bins is a good thing. I have discovered three areas where they have opened holes in the fiberglass and crawled inside. It is great entertainment watching them enter and leave as they dance for a few moments to each other at the entrance. But, alas, the coating on my storage bins is not a good place for them to live. I tried sealing the openings and they just made new ones. I have sprayed insecticide into the opening and around it and that seems to work until another group finds another spot. I hate killing bees. We are getting ready to leave next week and I am not certain it is a good idea to transport bee colony(s) several states away. Any ideas on how to get rid of them and discourage them from coming back?

[Tom Blanchard]

We are currently parked in the midwest in a large field with lots of grass and clover. There are a lot of honeybees around (a good thing). The problem is that they have evidently decided that buiding a hive under the coarse fiberglass coating on the rear of the motorhome basement storage bins is a good thing. I have discovered three areas where they have opened holes in the fiberglass and crawled inside. It is great entertainment watching them enter and leave as they dance for a few moments to each other at the entrance. But, alas, the coating on my storage bins is not a good place for them to live. I tried sealing the openings and they just made new ones. I have sprayed insecticide into the opening and around it and that seems to work until another group finds another spot. I hate killing bees. We are getting ready to leave next week and I am not certain it is a good idea to transport bee colony(s) several states away. Any ideas on how to get rid of them and discourage them from coming back?

I had a like problem once in the stix and bricks, Father in law was a bee keeper and said to use sulphur to kill them.
Used to buy the stuff anywhere, might have to go to garden supply or maybe drug store now. It's called flour of sulphur or sulfur according to how you spell it, the old or new way.
Way it worked was blow a fine dusting into opening with small hose and air compressor, they will all be dead or gone tomorrow. In my case used a 10 foot length of 1/2 in conduit and just stuck it into box getting about a teaspoon full in end of pipe, then just use a nozzle at the other end and poof!
WARNING... Sulphur is kinda stinky and might corrode some metals so this might not be a way for you but thought I would toss it out as it will get rid of them.

Good luck,
Tom Blanchard

[Kirk]

As far as I have ever heard, honey bees do not bore holes. It sounds to me as though you have some other kind of bee?

[HamRad]

JoeZ,
A few years back we were staying in the Phoenix area. It was Summertime ---- don't ask as that is another story --- Anyway we were the ONLY folks in the park but there were several sort of permanent rigs in the park. Late one evening I was walking my dogs and heard a buzzing sound coming from one of the rigs. Turns out bees had taken over the rig. It was hard for me to get too close since I'm afraid of bees. But it was obvious that the rig was almost completely taken over by the bees. I informed the office but we left a few days later and I never learned the outcome. I'll bet there was a ton of honey in that trailer.

Good luck with your bee situation and let us know what you end up doing.
HamRad

[Gemstone]

As precious few honey bees as are around these days, the last thing you want to do is kill them....call the County Extension Service, ask them to recommend a local bee keeper who may want to capture the swarm.

[oRV]

I learned as a boy that smoke will quiet the bees for removal. We lived in the foothills of So. California and collected sage honey for re-sale at the farmer's market. A rag dipped in kerosene and wrapped around a good stick and stuck first around the hive and then up in it will allow for the nest removal. Good luck and don't burn down your motorhome! As always, oRV

[Gator Dog]

I learned as a boy that smoke will quiet the bees

If it's real good smoke like the bud they grow up there in British Columbia, it will quiet a herd of elephants.

[SIBERNUT]

I thought an "apiologist" studied monkeys........

[RV]

Aw c'mon Siber, he got it right, just go here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apiology

I know they are usually referred to as apiarists too, my FIL is one. NOT ME!

I'm with Gemstone, call in an expert. You might also try to call the local fire department, or even police department and they can refer you to either a beekeeper who will come and take the swarm, or the right exterminators.

This post has been edited by RV: Jul 29 2010, 10:07 AM

[Barbarian Babe]

Doesn't sound like honey bees. Could be killer bees.

[LG61820]

Sounds like the carpenter bees that love to nest in the rafters of my garage and in my fence posts. Carpenter bees are larger than honey bees and are not too aggressive, but can cause damage. Google will provide you with some ways to discourage them.