Big Problem - How do you keep bees away?

[JWK]

Two years ago a swarm made a hive by getting in under the soffit (we have a A frame with a walk out basement). I had to take out the old aluminum soffit and scrape the honey combs out. Sprayed it over with foam insulation out of a can.

No problems all this summer until last week a swarm showed up and got in the space next to the old one. I had to go in and vacuum them out with a shop vac. They were a good three feet in and with nails sticking out all over there was no way the local bee guy wanted to try and get in there. Got most of them and then sprayed with some Raid wasp killer. Two days later another small cloud of what I think are scout bees show up. I went up last night with a ladder and checked behind all the insulation that is stuffed into the joist openings. No swarms, but the small cloud of bees came back today.

I went to the health food store and got some peppermint oil (read on the nets that this is the stuff they hate). Mixed it with about a quart of water with plenty of dish detergent and sprayed all over the soffit area that is open and where they seem to want to get in. They didn't like it, but they are still there 20 minutes later! I can smell mint all over so I can't believe I didn't use enough.

It's not like we have too many honey bees in the world! I don't want to kill another colony. Any suggestions? How do you keep honey bees from nesting in your place?

[Wisconsin Ann]

Put up a hive body somewhere nearby. let them move in. Gives you a hive, which you can either harvest the honey from, or have someone come take away, AND if you already have a hive in place, other bees looking for a place for new colony won't come within 1/4 mile They're rather territorial.

[JWK]

I don't have a hive and this is happening right now. I like the idea, just don't have a way to implement it before they set up house.

[motdaugrnds]

lol Wisconsin Ann, you beat me to it.

Give them what they want in a place where it will be ok for you.

[mickm]

Originally Posted by JWK

Two years ago a swarm made a hive by getting in under the soffit (we have a A frame with a walk out basement). I had to take out the old aluminum soffit and scrape the honey combs out. Sprayed it over with foam insulation out of a can.

No problems all this summer until last week a swarm showed up and got in the space next to the old one. I had to go in and vacuum them out with a shop vac. They were a good three feet in and with nails sticking out all over there was no way the local bee guy wanted to try and get in there. Got most of them and then sprayed with some Raid wasp killer. Two days later another small cloud of what I think are scout bees show up. I went up last night with a ladder and checked behind all the insulation that is stuffed into the joist openings. No swarms, but the small cloud of bees came back today.

I went to the health food store and got some peppermint oil (read on the nets that this is the stuff they hate). Mixed it with about a quart of water with plenty of dish detergent and sprayed all over the soffit area that is open and where they seem to want to get in. They didn't like it, but they are still there 20 minutes later! I can smell mint all over so I can't believe I didn't use enough.

It's not like we have too many honey bees in the world! I don't want to kill another colony. Any suggestions? How do you keep honey bees from nesting in your place?

The problem is on this last one that you didn't get the queen.

Never wait a week, two days is too long.

You are going to need to call a beekeeper I am betting!

[JWK]

I got the queen. I got all of them. Nothing happened at all for two days. This is a new group. I have another group getting into the peak of my roof. This is really bad. I've been here six years and have never seen anything like this.

[Tricky Grama]

If you DO get them out-I'd think you'd have to call a bee keeper-then wipe down the areas w/strong orange oil solution. May have to do this every couple yrs, depending on your weather.

[beaglebiz]

I have heard beekeepers will come and take away swarms for you...I hat to see anyone kill honeybees...

[DoubleBee]

Beekeepers will take a swarm, but they will charge to do a cutout. If you have sprayed the bees and comb that was there before, then most beekeepers won't touch the job.
Most times you can not kill all the bees by spraying, because you can't access the full hive. Even if you did kill all the bees that were there, if you don't get all the comb and honey removed, then it will attract new bees.
You might try using something like Fischers Bee Quick repellent, and you'd have to keep spraying the area until all comb is removed.
http://www.bee-outside.com/fischersbeequick8ozpump.aspx
There is also Bee-Go, but it smells horrible.

[ronbre]

put up empty hives..put the swarm in the hive and then make sure that there are empty hives should there be another swarm around..you can attract them to the hive with honey and other ways..

[Navotifarm]

I was going to recommend Bee-Go but it sure does stink! What about Liquid Smoke?
Besides the pest removal people or a local beekeeper that charges money or doesn't want the job, do you have a local bee club? Summer is winding down and so is the honey flow. Probably one of them has a hive body they would be glad to set up so they could get a new swarm. However, are you sure it's honey bees you're having the problem with???

[FarminGal]

Anytime you have a colony of honeybees move in, it will take time to move them out, but a beekeeper can do it. The kids and I have done a few of these removals this year, and have a few in progress even now.
If you spray the comb and colony with poison then you have really screwed things up for yourself.

First, if there is an established colony in there that has build brood and honey storage combs who is going to remove it when they are all dead? Scouting honeybees from beekeepers hives within a 2-3 mile radius most likely. Spraying *your* colony with poisons may kill them, but when they are gone then they are no longer protecting their comb from robbers. Other honeybees from around the area will stop by, see free eats, and fly back to their hive to tell the rest of them about this easy, free, food source. Then more will come, remove the honey, and take it back to their own colony. If there is poison on it, then guess what? You have just poisoned more than just the colony that you wanted out. You have poisoned a beekeeper's livelihood.

Second, if you already sprayed a colony then a beekeeper will not want to trap out sick and compromised honeybees. They will not have a hope of recovering the expenses, so if you can get one to do it you can expect to pay more for the service.

So when you have a colony in an unacceptable location call a beekeeper to come and set up a trap out. Yes, a cut out will cost you a lot more, because first the beekeeper charges to do it, then you will have to pay someone else to close it up and do the repairs. Best is to find a beekeeper willing to do a trap out, remove the offenders, and bring in another hive to set nearby to go in and rob it out within a few more days, then close up the entries. If this is not done then you will have a huge mess of comb and honey to lure in other pests as well.

There is no easy fix. You have to choose your methods. Quick and messy is the cut out if you can find someone to do it. Slower but thorough and safest for all concerned is the trap out if you can find someone to do it. Either way I expect you will have to call around awhile to find someone to do the job. You should expect to pay for the service and you can avoid needing it in the future by checking your home from ground to rafters to make sure there are no entries for honey bees or other bees to move in and set up housekeeping. Easier said than done, of course, but there it is.

[pancho]

Bigger problem, how can I attract bees?

[DoubleBee]

You can attract bees with a bait hive set up with old brood comb in it. You can add lure or lemon grass oil. Now is a bad time of year for it, though.

The OP should post the original question in the beekeeping forum here.