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How to Get Rid of a Beehive Without Killing the Bees

To a honeybee, the cavity between the studs in the walls of a home is a perfect spot for a hive. Humans who live in the home, however, want the bees gone to eliminate the possibility of someone being stung. While destroying the hive and the bees may seem like the first option, it is not the only one. A qualified beekeeper or a dedicated do-it-yourself type can safely and successfully remove the hives, giving the home back to the humans and letting the bees get back to their important work of pollinating crops and making honey.

Things You'll Need

Bee suit and veil
Leather gloves
Queen cage
Bee vacuum
Hive body with 10 empty frames
White utility string
Wax foundation
Spray bottle

Instructions

- 1
  Observe the bees to see where they are gaining access to the building.
- 2
  Tap several places along an inside wall and listen for buzzing. This gives you an idea of the size and exact location of the hive.
- 3
  Put on bee suit, veil and gloves. If not using a one-piece suit and veil, make sure there are no open spaces between the suit and veil that bees can enter. Tuck the sleeves inside the leather gloves and tuck the pants legs inside the socks so no skin is exposed.
- 4
  Make an opening in the interior wall big enough to access the hive.
- 5
  Remove the honeycomb one piece at a time and examine each piece for the queen bee. She is usually located on a frame with fresh eggs. When found, carefully pick her up from the comb and put her into a queen cage for safekeeping.
- 6
  Insert the pieces of comb into the empty hive frames, getting the best possible fit without damaging the brood cells. Use white utility string to secure the pieces in the middle and both ends of the frames. Insert the comb-filled frames back into the hive body. You can also tie combs containing honey into frames, or you can be collect the honey for consumption.
- 7
  Turn on a bee vacuum and begin removing bees from the cavity.
- 8
  Prevent the bees from getting overheated by keeping the bee vacuum out of direct sun. Periodically spray the screen of the vacuum with water.
- 9
  Relocate the hive body and bee vacuum to the hive's new permanent location. Introduce the bees from the vacuum and the queen from the queen cage into the hive body. Close up the hive and leave it untouched for several days.
- 10
  Check the brood chamber after a few days for new eggs. If none is found, the queen may have died and requires replacing.

Insects & Science