Home Page
   Articles
       links
About Us    
Traders        
Recipes            
Latest Articles
Bees up a chimney

 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Downsizer Forum Index -> The Apiary
Author 
 Message
Stacey



Joined: 18 Jul 2005
Posts: 8380
Location: Kernow
PostPosted: Sat Feb 16, 08 7:46 pm    Post subject: Bees up a chimney Reply with quote
    

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
PostPosted: Sat Feb 16, 08 7:58 pm    Post subject: Re: Bees up a chimney Reply with quote
    

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
PostPosted: Sat Feb 16, 08 8:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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.
PostPosted: Sat Feb 16, 08 8:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Best euphemism ever!

hedgewitch



Joined: 26 Nov 2005
Posts: 5834
Location: Daft wench GHQ
PostPosted: Sat Feb 16, 08 8:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Jonnyboy wrote:
Best euphemism ever!



jamanda
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 22 Oct 2006
Posts: 35056
Location: Devon
PostPosted: Sat Feb 16, 08 8:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Are they honey bees?

toggle



Joined: 30 Dec 2006
Posts: 11622
Location: truro
PostPosted: Sat Feb 16, 08 8:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Quote:
Anthophora plumipes, The Hairy-footed Flower-bee:


apparently.

jamanda
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 22 Oct 2006
Posts: 35056
Location: Devon
PostPosted: Sat Feb 16, 08 8:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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
PostPosted: Sat Feb 16, 08 8:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I've already given him that link

Bodger



Joined: 23 May 2006
Posts: 13524

PostPosted: Sat Feb 16, 08 8:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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
PostPosted: Sun Feb 17, 08 8:58 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I was kind of hoping there was a way of keeping them alive

Bodger



Joined: 23 May 2006
Posts: 13524

PostPosted: Sun Feb 17, 08 9:05 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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: 45375
Location: yes
PostPosted: Sun Feb 17, 08 11:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

could be mason bees but , either way , once the fire is lit a happy relocation is beyond me

Slim



Joined: 05 Mar 2006
Posts: 6533
Location: New England (In the US of A)
PostPosted: Mon Feb 18, 08 3:02 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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...

Post new topic   Reply to topic    Downsizer Forum Index -> The Apiary All times are GMT
Page 1 of 1
View Latest Posts View Latest Posts

 

Archive
Powered by php-BB © 2001, 2005 php-BB Group
Style by marsjupiter.com, released under GNU (GNU/GPL) license.
Copyright © 2004 marsjupiter.com