Bees in my roof

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lorrayne	Bees in my roof Should I be worried ? They are swarming around the gable end and disappearing inside ?
Tavascarow	If they are in the attic space & you use it for storage they might become a pest. Other than that they won't affect the integrity of your building but, if at a later date you want them removed it will be harder once they are established. & if you just have them destroyed by a pest company the combs of brood & honey left will ferment & can then be a cause for damp & moulds, or more likely attract another swarm later. Also if you need work done on the gable end in the future you might find it hard to find a tradesman who will work near a colony. Alternatively if they are now only just moving in a competent local beekeeper should be able to remove them safely or at least give a more accurate appraisal than I can over the internet.
onemanband	Thank's Tavascrow - that's a useful and timely post. Last week I went to do a roof repair (she's only been waiting 2 years ) As I removed the eaves tiles it become apparent there were bees. Other than removing a few tiles I didn't provoke them, but I still got stung. So job will have to wait. Customer doesn't mind fact there's a bees nest and my work won't block them in. When will it be safe to return ?
lorrayne	Thank you that's really helpful - we have a small nature reserve about 500 yards from our property and this is owned by the council - one of the councillors is a bee keeper and they have allowed him to install 2 hives, do you think this may have anything to do this? L
Hairyloon	Thank you that's really helpful - we have a small nature reserve about 500 yards from our property and this is owned by the council - one of the councillors is a bee keeper and they have allowed him to install 2 hives, do you think this may have anything to do this? L

Only if he is not a very good beekeeper.
But either way I expect he'd be happy to come and take them away for you.

Mistress Rose

I hope you can find a beekeeper to remove them if the only way to the colony is from the outside. We have removed one from quite a long way up a tree in the past, but as most beekeepers who will come to swarms tend to be retired, a lot won't go up ladders. If there is a way to them from inside it might be easier. Good luck.

dpack

i just had a moment when i pictured crawling about in an attic corner in a bee suit and cloud of unhappy bees Shocked

inconvenient is a polite way of putting it ,hope you get it sorted

Tavascarow

Thank's Tavascrow - that's a useful and timely post.
Last week I went to do a roof repair (she's only been waiting 2 years Embarassed

) As I removed the eaves tiles it become apparent there were bees. Other than removing a few tiles I didn't provoke them, but I still got stung. So job will have to wait.
Customer doesn't mind fact there's a bees nest and my work won't block them in.
When will it be safe to return ?

Once they are established the only safe time really will be in the winter & even then you might get a few flying on sunny days. IMHO at that time it wouldn't be cruel or dangerous to block their entrance whilst you work just remember to remove it when you're finished, for the bees sakes & the homeowner.
If they can't get out through their usual exit they may look elsewhere & end up in the living space.
Bees in roofs are quite common & most people are usually completely unaware of their existence until work needs doing or when they swarm.
Possibly more common now since so many hollow trees are felled for health & safety reasons. Tavascarow

Thank you that's really helpful - we have a small nature reserve about 500 yards from our property and this is owned by the council - one of the councillors is a bee keeper and they have allowed him to install 2 hives, do you think this may have anything to do this?
L
Only if he is not a very good beekeeper.
But either way I expect he'd be happy to come and take them away for you. Even good beekeepers lose the odd swarm. No method of swarm prevention yet devised has proved 100% effective.
Most likely they have come from his hives & he would probably be the best person to approach first.
As Hairyloon says if it was me I would be delighted to be able to get my bees back.
You might suggest, to stop future swarms entering your roof that he puts up a swarm trap nearby to attract them during the swarming season. lorrayne

The beekeeper came - they are bumble bees and on his recommendation we shall leave them, they only make a small nest and they aren't causing us any problems - and an old wives tale ( not a sexist comment I assure you) apparently we are lucky - in what I do not know but as we are healthy & fairly happy we will count our blessings.
Thank you for all the advice - that is what I like about this site, I have been a member for years but not a big poster of messages, I sort of treat the site like an encyclopedia and dip in now and again.
L Mistress Rose

Our local council has a check list for people calling for swarms. The first on is; is it round an furry or is it long and thin. You aren't along in not being able to distinguish bumble bees Lorrayne.

Strangely I had a call very similar to yours yesterday, but they were honey bees as they swarmed over the weekend. I gave advice and the phone number of the present swarm co-ordinator. Don't know where they got mine from as I haven't done that for donkeys years. Tavascarow

Got a call last night from a woman with a swarm moved in under her floor.
That's good advice Mistress Rose, must remember to ask her when I call her back.
Might save me a journey.

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