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Can I seal honeybees into a void space?

This video will explain how to seal in honeybees that have built a hive in your wall, roof, or chimney. Comparing how effective it is to other methods of honey bee removal and discussing whether this option actually works.

We will also answer common questions like … 

How do you seal bees in?

What is the best method for sealing bees?

Does sealing bees into a building work?

Can the bees escape the building once they’re sealed in?

What happens to the sealed honeycomb?

Should you seal bees in? won’t it kill the hive?

Methods for a colony:

Cut out live bee removal method – https://youtu.be/oESMIMM3zQY

Sealing bees in – https://youtu.be/ck6AK7_i5AM

Spraying bees – https://youtu.be/zKq9Hs2TCns

Smoking bees out – https://youtu.be/5Dk53dzotC4

Trap out – https://youtu.be/PrBuU9nGzaI

Methods for a swarm: 

Collecting bees in a box – https://youtu.be/sszYOqoscU8

Bee vac – https://youtu.be/jY9j3RZiMn8

Sealing bees within a void space, as the term implies, involves trapping them in an enclosed area. However, this method presents several issues.

Firstly, if bees were already entering the building, sealing them in can exacerbate the problem. When bees are trapped alive, especially after being exposed to insecticide, they tend to burrow deeper into the building.

Using insecticides in the area where bees are nesting is problematic as the particles, often in dust form, can infiltrate the building. This poses a significant health risk, especially for individuals with respiratory conditions like asthma. It’s neither safe nor advisable to use insecticides in such scenarios.

Another complication with sealing in bees is their resilience. They can survive for extended periods in void spaces, as these areas typically contain air and abundant honeycomb for sustenance.

Furthermore, bees are adept at finding alternative exit routes. If their primary entry point is sealed, they might locate another exit a few meters away, potentially causing the colony to disperse and expand into new areas of the building.

We encountered a case where a customer initially had another service provider seal the bees in alive. This proved ineffective as the bees simply found other ways out. The situation escalated when the bees were sprayed with insecticide and all known exits were sealed, only for them to discover yet another entry/exit point.

Upon being contacted, we assessed the situation and recommended a cut-out to extract both the honeycomb and the bees. Typically, we would relocate the bees along with their comb, but due to insecticide contamination, we had to incinerate the honeycomb. Ultimately, we were able to completely resolve the issue by removing the bees and securely sealing the area.

August 7, 2024
Press Room

Peter Higgs Profile

Peter grew up in Ewhurst, where he has lived for about twenty-six years. He grew up in a family home where he was brought up by his mum primarily.

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August 7, 2024
FAQ's

Will your insurance pay for bee removal?

Typically insurance companies won’t pay for pest control services. However, we have had insurance companies pay and sometimes in full.

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August 7, 2024
Protecting bees

Bee protection

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