Hi everyone,

Removing bees is part of my job as a pest control specialist.  I get calls
like this from time to time and there is no easy solution other than killing the
hive.   Before starting a project like this I would first analyze  the danger
to the home owner and general public.  If there is no risk, I would try to
salvage as many bees as possible (if there is a monetary value in doing so).
You could screen the front entrance and then return and capture the bees on the
outside of the tree after dark.  If you are able to locate the bottom of the
trees cavity, you could drill a hole and inject some "Bee Go" (from Dadant and
other suppliers) to drive out most of the bees.  You could then remove the
cluster of bees that forms on the outside of the tree.

After you have taken all the bees you can get (I like to spray them with
sugar water, then brush them into a screened box; a two piece apple box  that you
take broken down and tape up with duck tape when you get to the site works
great), you can harvest the honey with any available utensils.  After you have
harvested all the honey and bees wax you can, you can then exterminate the
balance of the bees in the tree with a mixture of water and dish soap.  Probably
the easiest way is to get an attachment (put out by Ortho) for a hose that will
spray fertilizer and fill it up with a cheap liquid soap (like dawn) and then
run the solution into the hole until you are sure all bees have died.  This
will kill the bees almost instantly.  If you cannot reach all the voids where
the bees are with the soapy water you will have to call an exterminator that has
a specialized piece of equipment called a B & G Presure Duster to blow Drione
dust into all the tree voids.  The price  range can cost you $125-300 (US
dollars) Be careful what you do and say because in some states you must be
registered as a pest control operator to exterminate bees even if you are using a
non-pesticide such as liquid soap.

I wish you well!

Ed Costanza
A-Bee Termite & Pest Control
Albuquerque, NM

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