How to remove a honeycomb?
Honeycombs or rather swarms can be very dangerous for some people, especially if you suffer from allergies. That’s why, it’s important to get rid of them and the best way to do that is to hire beekeepers. It is important to preserve our bees and beekeepers will be delighted to keep these bees for their apiaries.
There are few solutions to get rid of a honeycomb. So here are 10 practical honeycomb tips and tricks.
1. Difference between a hive and a bee swarm
In fact, we never speak of a honeycomb, but of a hive or a swarm of bees. But now, what is the difference between a swarm of bees and a hive?
What is a swarm of bees?
A bee swarm is actually a collection of tens or rather hundreds of bees in the form of a large, very compact ball. The swarm of bees is often found at the level of tree branches or squarely around a tree trunk.
Although surprising and impressive as a phenomenon, do not be afraid of a swarm of bees. Usually, after a few hours (or a few days at most) the bees leave and start looking for the perfect and definitive place to build their nest, their new hive.
What exactly is a honeycomb?
The honeycomb is very different from a wasp’s nest in its shape and composition. It’s even very rare to see a real bee’s nest, so what you see near your house is probably a wasp’s nest.
So if you are looking for more tips to prevent wasps from nesting, then I recommend this article instead: Homemade wasp repellent.
The honeycomb or rather the hive is made up of wax combs. The wax nest of bees is frequently found in a tree hole or other places sheltered from bad weather. But as in the image below, bees can also nest directly on the branches of a tree.
Here is a photo that clearly shows the differences between a swarm of bees, a honeycomb and ultimately a wasp nest.
2. Keep the bees away from the nest with smoke
Before the bees transform your house roof into a huge honeycomb, it is better to scare them away quickly. Indeed, as soon as you see the bees hovering around the house or at least too close to the roof and the walls, you have to act quickly.
To do this you can use a powder bellows or simply smoke. The smoke effectively keeps the bees away.
Of course, if it’s too late and the bee swarm is already in place under the roof or in the walls of the house, you need to call in a professional. This person will be able to remove the honeycomb and therefore keep them away from your home.
3. A beekeeper to remove a honeycomb
To avoid being stung by bees or causing hundreds of bees, it is better to call on a professional, a beekeeper. The vast majority of beekeepers agree to collect bee swarms, regardless of the region where you live.
You can call a beekeeper in your area to come and help you get rid of the bee nest. The beekeeper will be delighted to be able to save the bees which will then inhabit his hives and on your side you will finally be rid of the bees.
To find a bee swarm gatherer in France here are some interesting websites:
- essaim-abeilles.org: a portal to quickly find a beekeeper anywhere in France, Belgium, Switzerland and Luxembourg.
- recuperation-essaim-abeilles.com: an online directory to quickly find a beekeeper who will come and collect the swarm of bees.
To find a beekeeper who will come and collect a honeycomb in Quebec:
- mielmontreal.com: if you live in the Montreal area, this non-profit cooperative offers a swarm recovery service.
- apiculteursduquebec.com: web portal where you can find the contact details of more than 100 beekeepers located in the different regions of Quebec.
4. Never throw water or objects at bees
Bees very rarely sting, but if they feel in danger they won’t hesitate to sting to protect their queen and their hive, so watch what you do!
It is therefore very important not to throw anything at the nests or at the swarms of bees. You may be able to break the nest in question, but the bees will still be alive and well and will be angry. You will risk being stung by a large number of bees.
It is useless to destroy a honeycomb… it is even forbidden!
In any case, if there is no danger for your safety and that of your children, it is useless to destroy a bee’s nest… We must rather protect and save the bees, it is VERY important.
6. Honeycomb in a wall, what to do?
If you have just noticed the presence of a honeycomb in a wall, it is very important to act quickly so as not to further damage the structure of the wall. You will have to remove the wall panels and other materials so that you can then extract the bees and the nest. It is best to hire a professional exterminator in your area.
Bees love natural stone walls to build their nests!
Unfortunately bees particularly like exterior walls made of natural stones where very small cracks and cracks are enough to allow bees to make their hive. It is strongly advised not to use an insecticide or other toxic products to kill a honeycomb in the walls. Instead, prefer the services of a professional in your area such as a beekeeper who will agree to travel to collect the bees and their queen.
Caulk the holes in the walls!
To prevent bees from attacking the exterior walls of the house to establish their colony, it is important to seal the holes quickly.
7. Why not move a honeycomb?
Regardless of the size of the honeycomb, it is strongly recommended that you never attempt to move and destroy a honeycomb.
So if the bee nest is in a place away from the house and places you like to go in the field, you can leave the nest there without problem. Of course, the nest really needs to be away from your outdoor activities, especially if you have kids playing around the house in the summer.
Don’t touch the honeycomb!
And as we repeat from the beginning of this article, do not try to remove the honeycomb by yourself because you risk being stung by the colony of bees. Instead, call a specialist in your area to find out what exactly to do against this nest.
Come and discover now tips to keep bees away naturally without killing them in this article: How to keep bees away naturally?