Ian Watson wrote:
>>So far I have learned that there are a couple of options at this point: 
1)
attach a cone of screening to the colony entrance and attach a brood box
with top, bottom and a frame of brood, very close to the cone and wait for
the bees to emigrate; 2) take off the Facia which is right above this
window and hope that the bees are really in there and not the wall below; 
3) remove the plaster wall and take out the comb, bees, etc that way.
I'm sure this has been the topic of Bee-Line at least once before, but I
was wondering if there were any points I have missed?<<
 
I've just completed a successful operation like this employing option 1.  
Now that the bees are gone, I've left option 3 up to the homeowner to clean
up the beeswax and mess sans bees.  Wax is extremely flammable and poses a
great danger in case of fire.  This way the homeowner can't hold you
responsible for damaging their home.  Option 2 sounds like the beginning of
option 3 and once started, might lead you down the road of no return.   
 
Of course there may be a reason to try and remove the queen if you feel
these bees have some sort of talent/trait which helps them survive varroa.  
If that's the case you can employ option 1 to deplete the hive, then, in a
few weeks, option 3 to get the queen without freeing too many bees inside 
the house.   
 
The homeowner in my case was somewhat willing to tear up his walls and
rafters.  After checking out the situation, I decided I did not want the
responsibility of dismembering his walls.  I told him that after the bees 
were long gone, he might want to take on the responsibility or hire a
carpenter.  Good Luck!
 
Ted Wout
Red Oak, TX