Removing a bee hive in your yard or house can be darn right dangerous if you don’t know what you are doing. There are some important steps to take before even considering taking on this endeavor. First thing you want to assess is what types of bees are taking up residence in the encroaching hive.
Good Bees
Honeybees are usually the smallest of the bees. They are yellowish orange with black stripes and a little fuzzy. You will recognize this bee by observing them performing their chores on the neighborhood flowers. Bumble bees are yellow and black and very fuzzy. They also enjoy the flower pollen and very common in North America. These bees do a great service to the environment as they are a benefit to flowering fruit trees and produce honey. If bees such as these species maintain a hive where you live, try and contact a local beekeeper as they will do their utmost to protect the hive and colony by relocation. They will often do this at no extra charge. Try and avoid destroying a honey bee hive as their populations are in rapid decline.
Bad Bees – Wasps
Wasps are usually black, but include the yellow jackets which are yellow and black striped. These insects are larger than honey bees and usually very aggressive. They will often sting a person without being provoked, especially if one unknowingly gets close to the hive. These bees have a habit of taking up residence in all sorts of odd places whether in trees, sheds, underground, and within structures such as walls or attics.
The location and size of the hive will determine if you can destroy the colony and remove the hive on your own. First of all, a hive located in difficult to reach spaces or within structures such as walls will require the services of an exterminator. These individuals are trained to eradicate such infestations. It will also be a good idea to consider enlisting the help of an exterminator if the hive appears very large.
If the hive is smaller and easy to access you can consider taking on this job on your own. Your best option for getting rid of a bee hive is by purchasing a can of insecticide that has the ability to spray a stream from a long range. These insecticides can be found at just about any hardware store. It is very important that you purchase this chemical with the long range spray feature as this will allow some safe distance from the hive and also give you time to scurry away after application.
Once you have your spray, you will want to dress appropriately for the job. You will want to cover just about any potential area of exposed skin. It is recommended you dress with full length pants, long sleeve shirt, hat, gloves, and goggles. Make sure the pants are either tucked into your shoes or boots or they have a draw string at the bottom. You may look very silly to your neighbors, but safety is the number one priority when it comes to eradicating unwanted wasps.
Once you are dressed to kill, you will want to approach the hive with your spray can. It is recommended that you perform this task at night since the bees are active in the day. You will also want to bring a flashlight so you can get a good look at the hive while spraying. Follow the directions of the insecticide container prior to spraying. Once you have given the hive a good spray, exit the area very quickly and head indoors. Observe the hive the next day for any signs of life. If you are unsure about the hive having any live wasps, you will want to re-apply a second spraying of the insecticide the following night just to play it safe. Once the inhabitants of the hive have been killed, you will want to remove the hive and burn it if possible. Do not leave the hive intact as this will become a residence for another swarm of bees or wasps.
