Ian,
 
Welcome to the world of BEE-REMOVAL.
 
Of your 3 choices I would opt for the first one - the cone/bait hive
technique. I have done a number of this form of bee removals over the
years.  They are surprisingly effective and a means to increase a nuc hive
quicky due to 2 laying queens.  Problem is that it leaves a dead colony and
deserted wax and honey inside the wall which can break off and drop down
into the firewalls and soak throug the plaster. Wax moths and ants will
take care of the rest.  You can let the new colony rob it out.  DOn;t
forget to patch the hole so it will not entice future swarms.
 
Re #2 Removing the fascia. If you are a carpenter and the owner has no
problem in your removing the outside wall, then this can be effective bee
removal method.  You will get all the bees, wax and honey out thereby
preventing any damage from dripping honey eminating from wax month destoyed
combs. Problem can be finding the queen, she may move up into an attic or
other part of thehouse that is inaccessible without major demo.  Have a bee
vac on hand helps.
 
Re: 3:  Taking out the inside plaster wall is the least desirable avenue
IMO because there will be bees filling the living room and attracted to the
windows or lights.   Make sure you have a shop vac or bee vac on hand to
suck up the ones who escape into the room.  YOu could always ward off the
section that you are working with a taped ceiling to floor plastic tarp.
Also are you a good plasterer or drywaller?
 
Good luck in this project. Remember someone told me that "bees in a house
means the house is blessed".  BTW Does anyone know the source of this
belief?
 
Paul Cronshaw DC
Santa Barbara, CA USA
 
 
 
 Date:    Thu, 22 May 1997 12:49:32 -0400
From:    Ian Watson <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Bees in a house...again....
 
Hi all
 
I was called the other day by someone with bees in their house.  They
appear to be going in through a small opening in the corner of the brick at
the top corner of a livingroom window.  I went inside and used the highly
scientific method of holding a drinking glass up to the wall with my ear at
the other end and listened to the wall to the side of the window and heard
buzzing in quite a large area.  I'm not sure if that was bee noise from
higher up being carried lower by the plaster wall, or that the bees had
filled the entire area between the studs (I am leaning towards the latter).
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?
Thanks,
Ian
 
Ian Watson
[log in to unmask]
real estate agent    gardener    homebrewer    baritone
beekeeper-->  5 hives, 5 nucs on order