bee/tree removal in Houston

[txdukklr]

I have a tree in my back yard that needs to be removed, it died during the hurricane. I noticed a knot in the trunk has bee's flying in and out of it . . . . . should the bee's be removed before the tree?

Also anyone know who does this work?

[crittergitter]

call your local honey farm/bee keeper. most the time they will come get the bees for you

[txdukklr]

btt

[Mike]

Just FYI, Don't expect the "bee keepers" to come and get the bees on your schedule or do it for free. I have dealt with this twice recently on a rental properties and my home and they wanted $450 or so for them "taking the bees".

These WERE NOT exterminators but known bee keepers that I contacted via my extension agent.

I got a couple of Bengal Bombs, a towel and took care of the problem myself in about 5 minutes for $10.

[txdukklr]

yes I think your right lady started taking me through the non-lethal removal of the bees and realized it was going to be expensive. She provided me the "average" cost and I was like holy crap its a whole lot easier to go up the ladder and kill the sob's myself.

[Duramaxjack]

Bug sprayer and soapy water

[Flame-Tamer]

Got a soft spot for'em since they help produce a 3rd of what we eat and whats on my back and yours.

[Flame-Tamer]

Please use only soap and water instead of infesting and contaminating other hives that come to rob the honey. Guaranteed they will show up unless you close the hole and have fun with the ants.

Just my 2 cents.

[txdukklr]

tearing down the tree so once they're "removed" the tree is being cut down.

[saltyag00]

I have the same issue with an ancient oak tree (hundreds if not thousand years old) on back of my acreage. Don't want to kill the oak or bees, but also don't want any stings, 400 dollar bills, etc.

Does it matter what kind of soap, ratio used, quantity, etc.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!!!!!

[Bubba]

Dish soap will do the trick. Maybe a quarter cup per gallon. I’ve just always put a few big squirts in.

[bulletpusher]

Use soapy water then when the tree is down, get the kids out there to experience robbing the hive. Tasty treats for everyone.

[mchildress]

You might do the deed at night when they are dormant. I use Dawn but any liquid dish soap will do. Ill mix a couple squirts in a glass of water to knock out yellow jackets and red wasp nest around the house.

[Mike]

Just another note from experience,,,Dish Soap did nothing for my problem, nothing,,,, I tried to go that route and I sure hated that so much honey was ruined by the chemicals but I did what I had to do at the time.

I have an exterminator buddy and he agreed that honey bees are a different creature than the other flying bugs. I sprayed them with flying insect spray and they just kept going, crawled right out of it and flew off.

I had a 24" stud cavity that had combs folded like a taco the 24" width and the hung 5' long. It was estimated there were 3,000 bees in there, coming and going from a crack around a hose bib, maybe 1/2" . We worked late in the evening in short sleeves and never came close to getting stung.

I think the fogger would be the only method unless you can see all the combs to spray them. I did learn this, how ever many bees you see coming and going, multiply it by at least 100, lol.

Good Luck, Bee Safe (pun intended) and keep us posted.

[saltyag00]

The bees are coming out of a 4"-5" hole in the tree and the hole is 8'-10' off the ground. I'm assuming the bees will abandon the hive if I spray enough soap mixture in the hole where they are coming and going. I'm also assuming they won't attack me while I do this . Maybe I'll try at night .