Bee hive colony-any ideas? (townhouse, living, move)

[joshyomaster]

Hello, wondering if anyone has any thoughts?
this morning a new bee hive colony formed in my back yard right before my eyes;never seen anything like it..there was a swarm of bees for about 15 minutes , at first I was not sure what was happening. Then I realized that they had attached to a small tree in my yard. There are still some flying around, but thye are busy building their nest .
I live in a townhouse community and I called the pest control company , they are coming out tomorrow. Is this the right thing to do? I hate to see them killed , I love all living things...thanks for your ideas..

[bellasformas]

Might check this list and call the closest person to you, to ask for advice...if they're honey bees.

North Carolina beekeepers who remove honey bee swarms (http://www.ebeehoney.com/zNC.html - broken link)

[hula]

I got carpenter bees in my deck last year (the wood is treated) and thought I'd wait to see what happened this year. Unfortunately I found out that they hibernate and they're back with a vengence. I talked with a beekeeper at the farmer's market and even he said to kill them as they don't make honey and are destructive to the wood. I know that's not the kind you mentioned, but I'd never seen anything like this before and thought I'd mention it.

[CHTransplant]

Originally Posted by hula

I got carpenter bees in my deck last year (the wood is treated) and thought I'd wait to see what happened this year. Unfortunately I found out that they hibernate and they're back with a vengence. I talked with a beekeeper at the farmer's market and even he said to kill them as they don't make honey and are destructive to the wood. I know that's not the kind you mentioned, but I'd never seen anything like this before and thought I'd mention it.

Is the fact that they don't make honey the same as saying they don't pollinate? (Which would seem to be the more important issue.)

[zinner]

Since you are in a townhouse I am gonna assume your yard is tiny and they are right on top of you. I would kill em.

If there were in a tree in my back yard and I noticed them I probably would let em be since I have a pretty sizable lot.

[Starglow]

Originally Posted by hula

I got carpenter bees in my deck last year (the wood is treated) and thought I'd wait to see what happened this year. Unfortunately I found out that they hibernate and they're back with a vengence. I talked with a beekeeper at the farmer's market and even he said to kill them as they don't make honey and are destructive to the wood. I know that's not the kind you mentioned, but I'd never seen anything like this before and thought I'd mention it.

We had one that drilled a 1.5 - 2 inch long hole in our back door. They lay their eggs in the hole which is why your carpenter bees returned. I cleaned the hole out and treated it with powdered borax and then sealed it with wood filler.

That was the darnedest thing I've ever seen.... especially when my wife called me at work and said something was trying to eat through the back door.

[J_Lurk]

If they are honeybees, definitely take Bellasformas' suggestion.

Dwindling Honeybee Population in US Puzzles Scientists (http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2007-03/2007-03-29-voa60.cfm?CFID=192861698&CFTOKEN=53314607&jsession id=66309e2d899d8dc252cc156f1a2a58f7d453 - broken link)

[kelly237]

If they are honeybees there are lots of people that will come and collect them. My dad used to have bee hives... No reason to kill them...

[joshyomaster]

thank you everyone for your suggestions..the strangest thing happened. When my kids and husband got home,they saw the bees (many of them) on the tree busy doing what they do..then suddenly around 4 p.m. we heard the same buzzing sound almost like an alarm..They all took off the same way they came. Now they seem to be gone, but we will keep an eye out. Never seen anything like this before..I am learning new things living here.

[J_Lurk]

That's pretty typical behavior for a honeybee swarm. They were just taking a break as they looked for a new home.

Honey bee Swarms (http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/gaston/Pests/swarms.html - broken link)