Bees in bricks

SerenityApiaries · July 03, 2012, 02:54:33 AM

I got a call a few weeks ago from a guy that had a swarm move into a space between a wall and chimney. He had someone else come out to vac them but missed the queen because weeks later and the bees are still buzzing and quite a few remain. The guy that vacuumed the bees did call back to say that the ones he'd vacuumed moved in with one of his other colonies.
In the interest of saving the bees and the homeowner insisting I help him, I went to look at what I was getting into. There is an exterior fireplace that runs to the wall, the wall has separated slightly from the fireplace allowing the bees a place to enter. From inside the house, they have an interior fireplace in the same spot. The mantel of the interior was exposed to vacuum the bees from the exterior fireplace encasing (if that makes sense). After review of the scene I determined the bees were climbing into a crevice farther up the exterior fireplace. My question after a lengthy description is, would a Non-Contact Infrared Thermometer with Laser Targeting be able to sense the heat of the bees through the brick to determine an exact location, or would the brick be too thick for that to work? If not, any other ideas? I would guess there may be about 500 to 1000 bees remaining with queen, enough to keep busy on a sunny day.

wayne · July 03, 2012, 04:38:48 PM

trap out from the entrance.

AllenF · July 03, 2012, 07:48:08 PM

So did the first guy with the vac open up the wall? If you can not open up a wall, the trap out is the best option.

SerenityApiaries · July 04, 2012, 03:20:51 AM

He open a hole in the mantle and got a lot out that way. Only problem is after running a video feed in I see them running a crevice between the bricks of the outdoor fireplace and what I believe to be the flu of the inside fireplace chimney. I believe I can access their colony by removing a few bricks on the outside fireplace. I suggested a trapout but the homeowner is remodeling and under time constraints. I think the only option is brick removal. It's just a matter of how to find them.

AllenF · July 04, 2012, 09:52:02 AM

With a trap out, you will have to find every single opening to the outside and plug all of them but one. But it will work.

SerenityApiaries · July 06, 2012, 05:48:54 PM

I know it works. I've done several trapouts so I know they work great. I managed to convince the homeowner that a trapout is the best option and he decided I was right. I didn't want to cut into the brick cause that's quite a job. Wasn't sure if the temp from the bees could be seen through the brick.

G3farms · July 06, 2012, 06:34:50 PM

You might be able to see a slight variance in the temp on the bricks. Through sheet rock it will only be a 5 to 10 degree difference from what I have experienced.

SerenityApiaries · July 06, 2012, 07:43:15 PM

A slight variance at least gives a better prospective of where they may be at in an effort to keep the damage minimal. The homeowner already has enough repairs to fix from the other guy that vacuumed the bees prior. In an effort to make this a business I want to have happy people. Lol

divemaster1963 · July 06, 2012, 11:20:21 PM

Try to take the readings early early in the morning when it is the coolest. you will need all the advantage you can get when taking readings thru brick. also take the readings nearer the edges and in thirds. if the bricks are new style they have cavities in them. older bricks in the 40's and before were solid.

john

SerenityApiaries · July 07, 2012, 03:48:53 AM

Not a bad idea at all. Thanks to all for the suggestions.