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20k honey bees took over a tech company’s empty office during lockdown

qz.com

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Re: 20k honey bees took over a tech company’s empty office during lockdown

#31

Post by jjcon »

sunjester wrote: post #28
joncrane wrote: post #2

Cue the typical "Nature is Healing" especially because pollinators are under massive pressure due to pesticides and herbicides. Having said that, I'm glad they called a good beekeper who was able to rescue the hive. Also, I've heard that if you have a bee infestation in your attic for example, not to call an exterminator, but to call a beekeeper. Often these new hives are valuable to hobbyists and they are happy to c…

how much is a beekeeper compared to an exterminator?

I knew a beekeeper that would take them off peoples property for free since they could typically sell them or home them themselves - win win. I don’t think that is uncommon.

Re: 20k honey bees took over a tech company’s empty office during lockdown

#32

Post by joncrane »

sunjester wrote: post #28
joncrane wrote: post #2

Cue the typical "Nature is Healing" especially because pollinators are under massive pressure due to pesticides and herbicides. Having said that, I'm glad they called a good beekeper who was able to rescue the hive. Also, I've heard that if you have a bee infestation in your attic for example, not to call an exterminator, but to call a beekeeper. Often these new hives are valuable to hobbyists and they are happy to c…

how much is a beekeeper compared to an exterminator?

Beekeeper is generally free. Exterminator pricing varies based on locality and scale of the job.

Some beekeepers in competitive localities will pay to come remove your hive.

Re: 20k honey bees took over a tech company’s empty office during lockdown

#34

Post by lostlogin »

A few observations - I’m a beekeeper.

The brood pattern on that comb is horrible - I suspect a lot of varroa, but there are other potential causes. Varroa can be tidied up if the colony isn’t too far gone. Once it’s removed it needs to be kept under observation for a bit, and kept away from clean hives.

If it’s carrying something like American Foul Brood, it shouldn’t be spread. Here in NZ the ‘treatment’ for AFB is to burn the colony and the hive.

A colony is unlikely to die if the queen is killed (assuming it isn’t winter). They will make a new one from an existing egg.

This is a neat write up - and good on the person who removed them. Cutting a colony out of a building is a horrible, messy chore. Catching a swarm is very wary in comparison.

Edit: one more thought, comb is white, then it goes yellow, then brown and finally black. This is from use, bee feet and the cocoons that are inside each cell.

That process takes time, usually a season of two at least. I retire my comb at about 3 years old.

That comb looks quite black - I think it a been there for more than a season (dead bees noticed in April).

Re: 20k honey bees took over a tech company’s empty office during lockdown

#35

Post by Triv888 »

skeeter2020 wrote: post #25
yial wrote: post #3

I’m always amazed at how quickly animals and insects can setup shop. I’ve experienced this a lot in commercial buildings. At my current office, we’ve had crows peck through the roof twice.

Try getting rid of a wasp nest. They will rebuild daily in the exact same spot and it's tough to get them to move on (and you're usually not as polite as with bees)

At my house I used to have about 5 new red wasp nest under the soffit every year... Very easy to get rid of with that wasp spray that goes 15-20ft if you catch it early.

Re: 20k honey bees took over a tech company’s empty office during lockdown

#37

Post by lostlogin »

exabrial wrote: post #29
joncrane wrote: post #2

Cue the typical "Nature is Healing" especially because pollinators are under massive pressure due to pesticides and herbicides. Having said that, I'm glad they called a good beekeper who was able to rescue the hive. Also, I've heard that if you have a bee infestation in your attic for example, not to call an exterminator, but to call a beekeeper. Often these new hives are valuable to hobbyists and they are happy to c…

My dad and sisters are beekeepers. They run around all year to capture swarms. First, they try to capture the queen and mark her, then keep her extra safe in a special cage. Then they have a "bee vacuum" which is basically a shop vac hooked up to a bucket, both with a really low flow rate to avoid injuring the creatures. Most of the time, it's an entertaining process and the bees are as gentle as flies.

> They run around all year to capture swarms.

There may be a difference in certain regions, but usually swarms are a spring thing, with another small reoccurrence in autumn. Mid summer is quiet and winter has none.

This relates to the times at which a queen can mate - there are no male drones in winter (the females kicked them out!) and so any queen that hatched would be a virgin, and couldn’t lay.

Sometimes swarms will occur due to bees absconding to get away from High levels of disease. I have never seen this but high levels of varroa can cause it.

Re: 20k honey bees took over a tech company’s empty office during lockdown

#39

Post by reaperducer »

sharkweek wrote: post #26
joncrane wrote: post #2

Cue the typical "Nature is Healing" especially because pollinators are under massive pressure due to pesticides and herbicides. Having said that, I'm glad they called a good beekeper who was able to rescue the hive. Also, I've heard that if you have a bee infestation in your attic for example, not to call an exterminator, but to call a beekeeper. Often these new hives are valuable to hobbyists and they are happy to c…

Yes! 100% call local beekeepers when possible for an almost always free removal. A beekeeper will sometimes even PAY you so they can come move the hive. No such luck with wasp and hornet nests though. Had to pay to have one of those removed from the siding in our house. And wow were they mad when the beekeeper started vacuuming them up. Got talking to the guy for a while, fascinating industry. He's very nervous about…

What about carpenter bees? I've seen a lot of those around lately and have been thinking about checking the roof. Do they have the same value as honey bees?
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