Walemar:



> - when you were extracting bees out of cinder block walls,
> were there two narrow combs in the block hollows?


Reply:
Out here with codes there are solid filled cinder block every few feet so the width cannot go far, but the length sure can of the long and narrow combs.and mor then two narrow combs can be found in block hollows depending upon the type of block as 88s vary in casting.

continuing: 
> - how many feet - horizontally and vertically - did the
> combs extend?
> 

Reply:
They were limited by the solidly poured lines every few feet width wise for using, but vertically in a back and forth comb building mode, they could often extend vertically 8-12-16 feet or more, depending upon the height of the wall/building.

continuing:
> - did you drill pilot holes in the mortar between the
> blocks to judge the extent of the nest?

reply:
Yes, and if judged too much work then I filled in the tops with newspaper crumpled up and jammed it in and then capped the section between the solid poured lines of cement, though it certainly makes a person cry to kill stuff that way. But other then that you have to then cut the section open with a circular saw and cement blade or pick ax it open, and then it has to be resealed back up and that is not much fun either.

continuing:
> - I think the convective chimney effect in the cinderblock
> hollow should carry smoke with a bee repellent injected at
> the bottom of the nest's extent up through the nest
> pretty effectively.  Would the repellent drive the bees and
> the QUEEN up and out through the top entrance in your
> experience?

Reply:
It gets bees flying for sure, but many times the queen is lost and then no one can work around the area for several days after doing this too! and so because of this, is reason why many would pay the extra to cap the tops off and or simply fill with foam or cement poured in and move on, for it means less time tearing apart, and less bees aggressively flying and stinging and in cities in high density areas you certainly don't want this happening.....

Dee



      

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