Bees under the siding of my house (houses, backyard)

[elnina]

I noticed a few bees coming in through a gap in my siding. Short of ripping off the siding, is there any way I can tell if a hive is in my wall? If there is, what can I do for it?
I've heard stories of old houses where the bees had built monster hives inside the walls...one so huge that the owners only found out when honey started leeching through the plaster.

[HillCountryHotRodMan]

Do you hear anything inside the wall? You can put your ear up to it or if you have a spare stethoscope laying around you can check it out with that.

I would seal the wall up with a can of expanding foam sealer that can be purchased at HD/Lowe's.

[texdav]

If these are honey bees you might want to call you local city and ask if their are any local bee keepers who handle such things. Noramlly you will see them swarm in the spring and its hard to miss really.

[elnina]

Originally Posted by HillCountryHotRodMan

Do you hear anything inside the wall? You can put your ear up to it or if you have a spare stethoscope laying around you can check it out with that.

I would seal the wall up with a can of expanding foam sealer that can be purchased at HD/Lowe's.

I see them going in and out, so there is a nest. I just don't know how big!
If I seal the gap with the bees inside, they will find a way to spread and the problem will get bigger instead of being eliminated.
I have a stethoscope, but this is a bathroom wall covered with tiles. I doubt I will hear anything, but I will try and let you know tomorrow

[TexasVines]

get one of those guns that reads heat with a laser

wait until late in the evening when the sides of the house have cooled off especially if it is a west facing wall

then go out and point the gin at various areas on the wall starting with the area right by the hole then an area way away from it and get your readings and then read the area all around the hole

if it is of any size at all the hive will give off enough heat that you can see the area it covers under the wall

[Merovee]

What about smoking them out?

We can have a huge BBQ in your backyard and voila!

[SabresFanInSA]

Originally Posted by Merovee

What about smoking them out?

We can have a huge BBQ in your backyard and voila!

I vote for that.

[Mom2Feebs]

I think the only way to find out is to call a honey bee removal expert. I see signs all the time for them in vacant lots but for the life of me I am drawing a blank on a name of any kind.

[TexasVines]

Originally Posted by Merovee

What about smoking them out?

We can have a huge BBQ in your backyard and voila!

sorry cheech and chong, but smoking them out only calms them down it does not actually make them leave the hive in fact it will make them less likely to leave the hive

[goodmanm]

Although I think you're right regarding the calming effect it'll have on the bees, cheech and chong didn't BBQ!!