Honey bees are among some of the world’s greatest pollinators and there is nothing better than drizzling some delicious local honey on some warm buttery biscuits. There is a great need to preserve the Honey bee population however, what do you do when these busy buzzers set up shop in a less than ideal place?
There are multiple ways to safely remove Honey bees from areas where they don’t belong. If you would like to know more about how to remove and keep Honey bees from making their home in your home continue reading for more information that may be beneficial to you.
Honey Bees – The Ultimate Game of Hide-and-Seek
Most people love honey, but that is not to say that they want to have a full-blown Honey bee hive operating inside the walls of their home or other areas that they spend time in when they are outside.
Sometimes Honey bees can find some rather inconvenient spots to set up a colony. It is not uncommon for Honey bees to set up shop in:
- The small spaces behind siding and brick
- Concrete blocks
- Eaves and soffits
- In an unused chimney
- Inside the walls of your home
- Trees
- Under sheds and other outbuildings
- Upside down buckets and other miscellaneous containers
If you are one of the many individuals who has had issues getting rid of Honey bee swarms and keeping them gone then this article is for you. The following information will give you ideas and suggestions on the best ways to safely remove a colony of Honey bees.
Getting Rid of Honey Bees
The following list gives details on how to safely and naturally remove Honey bees without killing them so they can continue to do their important work.
Bee swarm trap
One of the most effective ways to get rid of Honey bees is to set up Honey bee swarm traps. What is a swarm trap you may be wondering?
A swarm trap is essentially a box designed to attract scout bees who in return will report back to the Queen and they will move their colony to the trap. Honey bee swarm traps can be made from materials that you have lying around your home and property or they can be purchased online or from a local beekeeper.
The key to effectively using a swarm trap is to be sure you set it out at the right time of year. If you set them up too late in the season you may find yourself coming up with nothing because the colony has already found a place that they are happy with.
Call a Professional Beekeeper
The first and probably the best thing to do if you have a colony of Honey bees that are causing an issue for you is to call a professional beekeeper, especially if you have a swarm of Honey bees in the wall of your home.
A professional beekeeper knows what to do and has all of the tools necessary for catching and relocating a swarm of Honey bees.
Most beekeepers will not charge you to remove a Honey bee swarm because Honey bees can be quite expensive to purchase, so they save money by removing the Honey bees and also save the Honey bees from becoming exterminated so they can keep doing their job.
Clean Up Unused Items
Idle or unused items such as upturned buckets, wooden boxes, and other similar objects laying around your property are all great places for a Honey bee to set up shop.
To minimize the chance of this happening, clean up your property and try to keep these kinds of items away from home and outdoor living areas.
Homemade Natural Repellent Spray
Another effective way to naturally repel Honey bees is to create your own natural repellent spray.
The following essential oils can be added to water and a spray bottle to deter buzzing Honey bees from bothering your peaceful space:
- Lemongrass
- Mint
- Peppermint
Once you have mixed your repellent, generously spray it all around the area in which you are experiencing issues. If you are having issues around your pool area be sure to spray a heavy mist over the entire area, including the outdoor furniture, cushions, etc.
Honey bees have a very strong sense of smell and will not want to be around that area anymore. There may be a few casualties, but typically the bees will return to the hive and notify the rest of the clan that a particular area is no longer welcoming and they will eventually leave you alone.
Naturally Deter Honey Bees With Plants
If you really want to deter Honey bees from hanging out in a certain area you can plant a border of the following types of plants:
- Lemongrass
- Mint
- Peppermint
As mentioned, Honey bees have a very strong sense of smell and will not want to be in an area that is permeated with these scents.
Remove Any Remnants
As previously mentioned, Honey bees have an extremely keen sense of smell. If you have had issues with Honey bees before and you know where their hive was located then it is imperative that you remove any leftover honeycomb from that area.
Even the smallest leftover piece of honeycomb can attract a scout bee and before you know it you are infested again.
Block Entrances
Seal up tiny holes and bee-sized entrances that they can get into as much as you can. A Honey bee can fit into a space as small as 1/8” so it may be difficult to get every hole.
The more you entrances you can seal up, the better your chances are of keeping those Honey bees from building a hive where it doesn’t belong.
Smoke Them Out
Another way to remove Honey bees from a hive or space that you do not want them to be in is to smoke them out. Create a small fire burning wood and paper to create a lot of smoke.
The smoke will eventually drive the bees out of the hive. You will need to keep the fire going for several hours before they are all gone.
Other Ways to Get Rid of Honey Bees
The following items are meant to kill bees and are considered last resort measures because we really don’t want to kill bees because they are so crucial to the pollination process.
The only time you would want to take these measures is if you have tried the other ways and they are not working or if you or someone in your household is allergic to bees and they need to be removed for safety reasons:
- Call a professional exterminator
- Leaving small dishes with a sweet soda will attract the Honey Bees and kill them once ingested.
- Spray soapy water or vinegar and water in and on the hive
Natural is Best When Removing Honey Bees
The following information is meant to help you safely and naturally remove unwanted swarms of Honey bees from your home and property. It is always best to do this naturally whenever possible so we don’t hurt the already declining Honey bee population.
