Bee-listers:
 
I have read with interest the messages describing the removal of bees from
a tree.  Also, Sally Graves and Ted Wout wrote two nice messages about bee
removalusing the bait technique.
 
Here is my situation and I could use some help.
 
This weekend is going to be a bzzzzy one.  3 bee removal jobs.  Two will
involve the bait technique using some small swarms I recently captured.
These colonies need a fast infusion from of another colony to produce any
honey this season.
 
The 3rd one I am going to tackle involves a hive in a 2 car garage. Thanks
to woodpeckers opening holes in the wood siding, this garage is blessed
with a recent swarm.
 
Normally most garages are not constructed with drywall, the studs are
exposed along with the black paper and outside wall.   However this garage
is half drywalled.  The bees are between the joists in the loft part of the
garage, having moved in right next to a joist space that had bees in the
year prior but were exterminated.
 
I cut open the dry wall of the old colony to find remnants of dead bees,
honeycomb with honey still stuck to the studs.  However, most of the comb
had falled down to the first firewall and there was evidence of honey that
had leaked out at the point where the dry wall met the floor.  I have
scooped out most of this moldy mess and have disposed of it knowing there
is probable residue from the extermination process.
 
Normally I would prefer to remove bees from the outside but do not want to
rip off nice looking siding. I plan to cut out a section of the drywall and
remove the bees from the inside.
 
I would be interested in learning any secrets in removing a colony from
inside a garage.  Oh yes and I will have a vacuum cleaner standing by as
the last resort  to remove the colony.  Still looking for a good bee model
vacuum cleaner, one that will not pulverize the bees.
 
BTW I am not charging for any of these 3 jobs.  I consider it a community
service as a method of spreading the good word about honey bees and
thanking these folks for their consideration in saving these special
insects.
 
 
 
Paul Cronshaw, D.C.
Cyberchiro and Hobby Beekeeper
Santa Barbara, CA  USA