I have a rather large old oak tree. looks as though lightning has struck it couple times. at the bottom on one side there is a hole with apparently a bunch of small bees. don't really bother me but the bride Is allergic to the stings and she takes the dog for ride and don't want her to get stung so what are your suggestions to get rid of them. Thanks for reading.
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Geo-TH,In
Well-known Member
No idea how to remove bees. Bees are important so killing them isn't a good idea and bees are in short supply.
Grand daughter has to carry an epipen.
I carry a penny and tape. I tape a penny to bee sting and pain goes away. No idea why, but it works for me and others claim it works too.
Could you wait for winter, cut branch or tree down. Then move log to a safe area to save the bees?
Grand daughter has to carry an epipen.
I carry a penny and tape. I tape a penny to bee sting and pain goes away. No idea why, but it works for me and others claim it works too.
Could you wait for winter, cut branch or tree down. Then move log to a safe area to save the bees?
Gambles
Well-known Member
That's what you always read, but it doesn't always happen. Here in rural Kansas, there used to be a country school every two miles. I still have one a mile from me that is standing. It's an old one-room school that has stood the test of time and closed down in 1961. (At least that's what the sign on it says, but I digress)
ANYWAY, a couple of months ago, I saw that the bees have put about 5-6 big holes on the east side of it and they have massive swarms coming in and out of it. There has got to be a lot of activity inside of it.
All calls to the local beekeepers and the extension agency said that they weren't interested. So I guess the school building will now fall into disrepair because of bees instead of environment.
ANYWAY, a couple of months ago, I saw that the bees have put about 5-6 big holes on the east side of it and they have massive swarms coming in and out of it. There has got to be a lot of activity inside of it.
All calls to the local beekeepers and the extension agency said that they weren't interested. So I guess the school building will now fall into disrepair because of bees instead of environment.
Simply just stay away from that tree. After a few years ? they will move on as did the ones I had in a tree. I have some rose of Sharon bushes in the yard that are in bloom now. I don't mow near as close to them now as I used to because they are loaded with bees gathering nectar from them. I have pushed my luck and have gotten really close to them though. They don't seem to bothered by me ? but in this case it is not the hive.
Steve in VA
Well-known Member
- Location
- Natural Bridge Virginia
I fully support Glenster's approach. Honey bees are way too important to just nuke. Along those lines, however, even if not honey bees they may be pollinators. I have what have been identified to me as mason bees that appear each year in the ground in the equipment shed. So docile that the dogs and I can walk through without any response. Peoples allergic reaction to one kind of bee may not be the same for all kinds.
That said, I completely understand your desire to look out for the family. They may be any number of ground bees that have moved into the tree due to wet weather.
Again, with Glenster, I'd be surprised if you don't have local beekeepers and a quick call for a visit can tell you exactly what you have and how to resolve the issue. Beekeepers will be happy to come out on the chance that they get a colony.
That said, I completely understand your desire to look out for the family. They may be any number of ground bees that have moved into the tree due to wet weather.
Again, with Glenster, I'd be surprised if you don't have local beekeepers and a quick call for a visit can tell you exactly what you have and how to resolve the issue. Beekeepers will be happy to come out on the chance that they get a colony.
NoNewParts
Member
find out what they are first...carefully.
Honeybees....like said, someone will be glad to get them for you.
Or just give them some room, they won't bother you.
On the other hand....little, sorta look like a honeybee without the fuzz....old stump or in the ground, or pretty much anywhere in an old tractor that sits in the sun........might be those little yellowjacket demons. mean little critters, and their venom packs a punch. Bee stings don't bother me much, but in the last battle, my forearms swelled like Popeye. (too many battles probably)
Erase them.
Honeybees....like said, someone will be glad to get them for you.
Or just give them some room, they won't bother you.
On the other hand....little, sorta look like a honeybee without the fuzz....old stump or in the ground, or pretty much anywhere in an old tractor that sits in the sun........might be those little yellowjacket demons. mean little critters, and their venom packs a punch. Bee stings don't bother me much, but in the last battle, my forearms swelled like Popeye. (too many battles probably)
Erase them.
If they are honey bees they are pretty good about not bothering anyone. If they are ground bees they hate everything and everybody and will attack even if you are 20 feet away. I've plowed up some of them in fields in the past - I can tell you they hate that. I would talk to a bee professional for advise and help.
Stephen Newell
Well-known Member
Run an add on craigslist. A beekeeper will come get them for the free. They want the bees.
rustyfarmall
Well-known Member
Honey bees, and even bumble bees very seldom will attack unless they percieve a threat. We have picked raspberries from a thicket that was alive with bees and never got stung. On the flip side, I was cleaning dead leaves out from under the rhubarb a few days ago and uncovered a nest of bumblebees. I exited stage left promptly and never got stung, but those bees were NOT happy with me.
glennster
Well-known Member
i am surprised that you cant get a bee keeper to come out. we have about 200 members in our beekeepers association and at least 30 members do active cut outs on unwanted bees. if the colony is as big as you say, there are probably 5-600 dollars worth of bees in there, along with the honey they have stored. what part of kansas are you in? i can check and see if i can find someone to do the cut out for you. emaill is open
BarnyardEngineering
Well-known Member
- Location
- Rochester, NY
People tend to call any buzzing yellow and black insects "bees."
They could be hornets or yellow jackets.
Frankly if they are honey bees leave them alone and avoid the area if you're allergic. Honey bees already have enough problems these days, and it might not hurt to let them "bee" in their natural habitat rather than trying to capture them in manmade hives.
They could be hornets or yellow jackets.
Frankly if they are honey bees leave them alone and avoid the area if you're allergic. Honey bees already have enough problems these days, and it might not hurt to let them "bee" in their natural habitat rather than trying to capture them in manmade hives.
kcm.MN
Well-known Member
- Location
- NW Minnesota
Welp, guess there's been quite enough excellent suggestions about "bees". What you need to do is to do a brief web search on the difference between bees and wasps., and then determine which you have. For that part, you can choose to have an assistant help with the identification, but not really sure how much help the dog will be! :shock:
Also keep in mind that there are many wasp-like insects out there that are NOT wasps! Those are beneficial also....so long as they don't cause you to fall over backwards and hurt something with the ol' noggin!
Also, often from this point of the season onward, hives of both bees and many wasps will do what is called "swarm", where they will send out many new potential queens in an effort to spread their colonies. Ants and termites also swarm!! So when you see an ant with tings and it's about 4 times bigger than normal, it's a new queen looking for her Kingdom.
Best suggestion is to take a decent digital camera and try to zoom in and get a few good pics of them going into and out of the hole. Then you can safely and comfortably load them up on your PC while researching what they are, or you can post here and stir the hive a bit, or can send a pic to a beekeeper or beekeeping organization and ask for help.
If these are NOT honeybees, then come back for suggestions on best way to deal with them without harming the tree....or yourself! And again, a pic would be very helpful.
Also keep in mind that there are many wasp-like insects out there that are NOT wasps! Those are beneficial also....so long as they don't cause you to fall over backwards and hurt something with the ol' noggin!
Also, often from this point of the season onward, hives of both bees and many wasps will do what is called "swarm", where they will send out many new potential queens in an effort to spread their colonies. Ants and termites also swarm!! So when you see an ant with tings and it's about 4 times bigger than normal, it's a new queen looking for her Kingdom.
Best suggestion is to take a decent digital camera and try to zoom in and get a few good pics of them going into and out of the hole. Then you can safely and comfortably load them up on your PC while researching what they are, or you can post here and stir the hive a bit, or can send a pic to a beekeeper or beekeeping organization and ask for help.
If these are NOT honeybees, then come back for suggestions on best way to deal with them without harming the tree....or yourself! And again, a pic would be very helpful.
glennster
Well-known Member
another thing to keep in mind, if you are in any of the southern states, they could be africanized honey bees ie (killer bees) if they are, stay away from the hive at all costs. they are a very aggressive bee and the whole colony will go on alert if you mess with them. their sting is no more venomous than a regular honeybee, but the huge quantity of bees that attack are very dangerous. when the bee stings, it leaves the stinger and venom sac at the bite location, and then the venom sack will release a pheromone that guides the rest of the attacking bees right to you. normal honeybees will first head butt you to get you away from the hive, if that doesnt work, they will resort to stinging.
Texasmark1
Well-known Member
If they are sucking up nectar from the flowers they are very docile and won't hurt you. I have driven by shrubs full of them with my lawn
mower, pushing the branches and bees out of the way with my arm for years and no problems.
On the hive in the tree, I had the same thing; lightening strike on a Pecan, killing the core wood aka making a hole in the center. Honey
bees frequented for years and one day just up and left. I found them in a clump of Junipers all wadded up one day. Wad was about the
size of a Soccer ball. Next day they were gone.
I cut the tree down later and found quite a large honey comb inside.
mower, pushing the branches and bees out of the way with my arm for years and no problems.
On the hive in the tree, I had the same thing; lightening strike on a Pecan, killing the core wood aka making a hole in the center. Honey
bees frequented for years and one day just up and left. I found them in a clump of Junipers all wadded up one day. Wad was about the
size of a Soccer ball. Next day they were gone.
I cut the tree down later and found quite a large honey comb inside.
rustyfarmall
Well-known Member
I can tolerate bees. I leave them alone as much as possible. I DO NOT like wasps, and those HUGE cicada wasps that have taken up residence in my garden have GOT to go.
I have never seen a honeybee on my property. Whenever I see something like that buzzing around an old stump (especially near the ground) or a building, it's usually a yellowjacket. If I see more than one, I'll look for the nest by walking around the area and I'll usually find it. I then grab the spray and blast the bejeezus out of the nest entry. Some will come buzzing out and I just back away a bit. Folks say wait till night but I just hit it when I can see it. Also allows you to see any flying towards you. I'd bet they're not honeybees. Best bet is to get a picture of them if you're not sure.
kcm.MN
Well-known Member
- Location
- NW Minnesota
Speaking of Yellow Jackets, did you know they're meat eaters?
During a very dry spell a few years back, I saw a long-tailed mouse that our cat killed and left. There were a few Yellow Jackets on it, and it actually looked like they were trying to eat the thing! So I set up the tripod and the old VHS camcorder and got 2 hours of them devouring this mouse! There was just a little bit left the next day, but other bugs had claimed the remains.
I wish the video quality would have been better. It was fascinating to watch, but can only handle so much of it. ...Kinda like watching paint dry. :?
During a very dry spell a few years back, I saw a long-tailed mouse that our cat killed and left. There were a few Yellow Jackets on it, and it actually looked like they were trying to eat the thing! So I set up the tripod and the old VHS camcorder and got 2 hours of them devouring this mouse! There was just a little bit left the next day, but other bugs had claimed the remains.
I wish the video quality would have been better. It was fascinating to watch, but can only handle so much of it. ...Kinda like watching paint dry. :?
dr sportster
Well-known Member
If they are honey bees someone should take them for free .Contact a beekeeper organization. If yellow jackets pour gas in the hole at night and light it up.
old
Well-known Member
- Location
- Camdenton Missouri
If they are truly bees please do not kill them off we need all of them that we can have. But you need to start off by knowing for sure what they are!!!!!!!!!! Sadly most people call wasps bees and do not have a clue which is which and bee well with out them the human race will die out. If they are in fact bees check around for a bee keeper and most will gladly get rid of them for you.
Being a form bee keeper I have a pet peeve about bees and people not knowing if they are bees or wasps and wanting ti kill off bees
Being a form bee keeper I have a pet peeve about bees and people not knowing if they are bees or wasps and wanting ti kill off bees
old
Well-known Member
- Location
- Camdenton Missouri
I do not know if it is still done but back in the day places like Sioux Bee had a list you could sign up on so they could contact the bee keeper in this or that area for calls of swarms etc.
The answer you are looking for is that almost any insecticide will kill bees. Put a hole large enough for sprayer noozle in a piece of plastic or sheet metal then tape over hole. After dark,cover entrance to tree to trap all bees inside. Next morning,pull tape off hole,stick sprayer in hole and spray througherly. Retape hole when finished and leave cover in place a few days.
The right answer is leave them alone. Wild bees play an important role in re-establishing overall bee population.
The right answer is leave them alone. Wild bees play an important role in re-establishing overall bee population.
Mike(NEOhio)
Well-known Member
- Location
- Newbury, Ohio
Put a piece of baloney or hot dog near the nest. If they're honeybees they will ignore it. Wasps, hornets or yellowjackets will be all over it.
Steve in VA
Well-known Member
- Location
- Natural Bridge Virginia
amen. To some folks, anything that flies and isn't a Cessna, is a bee.
Steve in VA
Well-known Member
- Location
- Natural Bridge Virginia
A buddy poured gas into a ground hive and lit it off. The hive extended out from the stump, under the fence, and off to a tall, dead, hollow tree. JW said it went up like a roman candle. Or a friend who wanted to get rid of a bag worm nest so put a kerosene sock on a broom handle, lit it, and held it up to the nest. Flaming worms leapt out into the grass. She ran back to the house and hid until the fire department left. Fire gets exciting around here.
I have used a large wet/dry vacuum sweeper. Prop the suction hose at the large ground hole and simply let it run for hours. Any angry bee leaving will be captured as well as any incoming one. They will all be in there if you let it run long enough. Then simply spray into the hose while it is still running. It works every time for me.
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