Dealing With a Bees Nest

[Scunner]

Or is it a hive, I dunno

We have many bees flying into an air brick (or through it) into the under the house area. Our local authority don't have a pest control service and the best I can come up with is to tape up the air bricks until they all starve to death, which is not ideal. There is no way the nest can be accessed to remove it kindly.

Does anyone have any other ideas?

Thanks  

[blueclad]

Have a look at www.bees-online.com/bees remove. It may take the STING  out of your problem .
also type in Scottish Bee Keepers on a search  and you will find contacts for your area.
Ron

[Scunner]

I want to get rid of them Ron not start honey production  

[Kevin Sowten]

Are you sure they are not wasps - a more common pest in wall cavities.
If so tape them in (they don't return to the same nest the following season)

[Bluwise]

Blimey, we have a similar problem - I thought they were bees (no visible yellow stripes) and they are trying to get in gaps etc both on our house and next doors.

[Scunner]

Definitely not wasps - had they been wasps I'd have taped it all up in a second  

There is no chance of the nest being removed (without removed the bricks which ain't happening...)

[SteveJ]

As an ex Bee Keeper for many years I can tell you that whilst the Queen bee remains in the cavity and the bees have access in and out your problem will persist. You have three options. Firstly live with it until late Octoberish when the colony will start to collapse in time for winter and then silicone or mortar up any gaps in the brickwork. If you don't disturb them they will not bother you. If you get them inside the house or you want to solve the problem more quickly then seal the gaps and the colony will starve to death within 14 to 28 days depending on how big the colony is.  They will try to find another way out so if there are other gaps further away they will find them and you may be forcing them to find a way out via the inside.  If you want an immediate solution spray a can of ordinary fly killer into the gaps before sealing them and the most of the colony will die within an hour or so, the rest will starve to death. Cruel I know but if there's no access then a bee keeper will be unable to extract them for you. Taking a single brick out is the humane option and a local bee keeper will be able to shift them for you. No Bee Keeper has ever been known to refuse a free colony.

[Lotty]

What a fantastic, concise and informative answer. I hope you can find a local bee keeper. It's a hard one to decide, but I believe bees don't sting unless distressed.

[Scunner]

Yes thanks Steve, that is really helpful. Access to the nest would be complicated and I think possibly expensive so unless the local beekeepers are also qualified builders I think I'll pass on that. Just wondering now if we blocked up all the air vents whether there is a possibility of them accessing the house.

I'd maybe consider letting them be (haha bee geddit) as killing them all is not a nice prospect, unlike killing hundreds of wasps - but as luck would have it, the air brick they have chosen is right outside the back door.

[Anne]

Keith we had the same problem two years ago.  I bought wasp killer foam from B & Q, sprayed it through the brick then blocked with newspapers.  I noticed they were then coming from another brick at the side of the house so did the same.  It took a few sprays but we were be free within the week. 
No one wants to kill our honey bees but better than the risk of multiple stings