Bees up a chimney

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Bees up a chimney

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Stacey

Joined: 18 Jul 2005
Posts: 8380
Location: Kernow

Posted: Sat Feb 16, 08 7:46 pm Post subject: Bees up a chimney
Someone on another forum has a problem with bees up their chimney. They're dropping down every now and then as they light the fire. Is there anything they can do to remove them? They're too far into the brickwork to make to viable to just remove a few bricks

Mary-Jane

Joined: 13 Jan 2005
Posts: 18397
Location: The Fishing Strumpet is from Ceredigion in West Wales

Posted: Sat Feb 16, 08 7:58 pm Post subject: Re: Bees up a chimney

Stacey wrote:

Someone on another forum has a problem with bees up their chimney. They're dropping down every now and then as they light the fire. Is there anything they can do to remove them? They're too far into the brickwork to make to viable to just remove a few bricks

Cripes. I didn't think bees swarmed up chimneys.

Is there a local 'expert' bee keeper who could advise and/or help?

Stacey

Joined: 18 Jul 2005
Posts: 8380
Location: Kernow

Posted: Sat Feb 16, 08 8:14 pm Post subject:
That's what I've asked them. I'm waiting for them to reply.

Jonnyboy

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 23956
Location: under some rain.

Posted: Sat Feb 16, 08 8:31 pm Post subject:
Best euphemism ever!

hedgewitch

Joined: 26 Nov 2005
Posts: 5834
Location: Daft wench GHQ

Posted: Sat Feb 16, 08 8:33 pm Post subject:

Jonnyboy wrote:

Best euphemism ever!

jamanda
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 22 Oct 2006
Posts: 35057
Location: Devon

Posted: Sat Feb 16, 08 8:39 pm Post subject:
Are they honey bees?

toggle

Joined: 30 Dec 2006
Posts: 11622
Location: truro

Posted: Sat Feb 16, 08 8:41 pm Post subject:

Quote:

Anthophora plumipes, The Hairy-footed Flower-bee:

apparently.

jamanda
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 22 Oct 2006
Posts: 35057
Location: Devon

Posted: Sat Feb 16, 08 8:42 pm Post subject:
See if they can find their local branch of the BBKA Here. Ours has details for swarm liaison officers on it.

toggle

Joined: 30 Dec 2006
Posts: 11622
Location: truro

Posted: Sat Feb 16, 08 8:43 pm Post subject:
I've already given him that link

Bodger

Joined: 23 May 2006
Posts: 13524

Posted: Sat Feb 16, 08 8:54 pm Post subject:

When I was a pest controller I dealt with this problem on a regular basis.
Its most unlikely that a bee keper will be able to remove them. This is because he or she will not be able to get close enough to them.

You need a professional pest controller who will probably use a pesticide delivered through a smoker or insecticidal candle.

He'll seal all the places, bar the top of the chimney where the insecticide will escape and literally send it up the chimney carried by the smoke.

I used to use what was known as an Atellic candle.

Stacey

Joined: 18 Jul 2005
Posts: 8380
Location: Kernow

Posted: Sun Feb 17, 08 8:58 am Post subject:
I was kind of hoping there was a way of keeping them alive

Bodger

Joined: 23 May 2006
Posts: 13524

Posted: Sun Feb 17, 08 9:05 am Post subject:

I use to take loads of swarms and pass them onto bee keepers but an established colony possibly 20 foot or more up a chimney is a totally different matter. They will have been there since at least last summer.
You either manage to live with them or you take the decision to get rid of. Nobody likes killing a colony of healthy useful creatures but on occasion, it's a matter of needs must.
From experience, I'd say that the bees are going to be located towards the top of the chimney.

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46211
Location: yes

Posted: Sun Feb 17, 08 11:19 pm Post subject:
could be mason bees but , either way , once the fire is lit a happy relocation is beyond me

Slim

Joined: 05 Mar 2006
Posts: 6612
Location: New England (In the US of A)

Posted: Mon Feb 18, 08 3:02 am Post subject:
Couldn't you block off most of the fireplace and just make a small very smoky fire that would disturb them? perhaps with a bit of screen or mesh to give it enough air to keep going? Might take repeated smokings, but I can't imagine they'd want to stick around for too long...

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