I don't have any hives yet, I'll start in the spring. I plan on trapping two colonies of bees out of a retaining wall at my job and start with them. It's going to be an interesting experience.
that sounds like a project, take lots of pictures to post, it would be great if you could get them, are you able to open up any block( on the retaining wall) to get the comb out?
No, unfortunately not. I'll have to use a funnel to get them out. The blocks are huge and the hives are at the bottom of the wall which is about 30 feet tall.
wow thats going to be a challenge, im not sure you will have much success without being able to get the comb out, all your gona catch are some worker bees flying out, and the queen will be deep inside that hive..
it is possible to talk the queen into coming out, especially if you trap the workers outside, groceries stop coming in and you put some fresh brood from another queen in the bait hive where the workers have started storing groceries. I've done it.
id be curious how big the hive is behind that wall, maybe try a bee vacuum with a long nozzle to get in deep or if you have access to one of those cameras that you snake behind walls to look for stuff could give you an idea whats in there..
Just a quick question. are you 100% sure those are honeybees? Because there is a variety of ground dwelling yellow jacket that flies like a honeybee and loves retaining walls
I think I'll be able to close up all of the exits. I'm not sure how extensive the hive is or where they can get in and out other than that one main entrance, but I think I'll have to pack something around the stones to seal it up. I'm in New Mexico and the colony is located about 30 miles NW of Albuquerque.
I would try soft foam to push into all the crevices around the stone, as this will be easy to use and remove with no residue left, maybe put a clear rubber tube an inch or so in diameter( you can buy it by the foot at home depot) in the widest area and pack around that and the other end in a box baited with lemon grass oil and some sugar water and frames with comb already drawn to keep them there and see if they will move into the box, check every so often to see how many bees moved in ..just a thought..
that sounds like a good way to try. I use a tube made out of number 8 hardware cloth that is wider at the hive and narrower where I want them to move to.
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
Beekeeping Forums
116K posts
4.4K members
Since 2008
A forum community dedicated to bee owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about breeding, health, behavior, housing, hives, care, classifieds, and more!