Hi,
I have a colony of European Honeybee's who have colonized an old, barn/shed cover. I had hoped to demolish the structure this summer, but now cannot. I understand that honeybee's do not hibernate. Even though I live in So. California, the winter temps. get down to 25 to 30 degrees.
How can I "drive them away" without harming them?
Thanks,
Karen
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all bees in America are old world, none existed in the new world until they were carried over by settlers.
There really is not much that will drive them away.
The easiest would be to call a bee keeper they may want the nest.
The queen is what the bees are all ques in on, if the queen moves the hive will move.
Call a bee keeper, your state ag office or local county agents office may be of help.
and call around- someone may want to remove the colony and use the honey and/or wax and/or bees. Not a job for an amateur unless you like getting stung.
Hi Karen,
Since you are in South California make sure they're not hybridized African/European or "killer bees". If there is an apiary near you, give them a call for their suggestions. They may or may not want the swarm, but they could point you in the right direction.
Good luck, Brian
while they are swarming, they can be easily trasported or captured, because they don't sting during this time. For example if they swarm on a tree branch saw the tree branch off and trasport in to a new hive location or whatever, many times a hive will break into two swarms during this time.
but in all reality you prolly shouldn't mess with them period, like the others said, get a beekeeper, he will use pheromones or possibly find the queen, but most likely use pheromones to capture and move them.