so i got this bee hive

yeah theres a big one. looks like these bees are the crafty type too. they actually dug a hole into my wooden retaining wall, so the hive must be under my yard or something. anyone dealt with underground bee hives before and know how to get rid of them?

I have a picture if anyone wants a visual.

 

Oh, sounds like you have a biggie! I haven't personally, but have friends who have, and they all used "Wasp Spray" so that you can stand far enough away, and it has a very long steam-like spray... Zap them, and sure, if you have a pic, I would love to see it... Once that spray hits them, they will just drop dead....

I doubt if they are honey bees, as they don't build a hive in the ground. but they might even be in the wall of your house....

If you can't get to them, you may have to hire an exterminator.... (No, not Arnold! LOL )Good Luck, and keep us posted...

 

carpenter bees
they will burrow a small tunnel into soft woods and deposit their eggs.
they especially like redwood
had them burrow into my mothers patio table out on the porch year after year
they are not dangerous, mainly just a nuisance, and noisy when busy. the males have no stinger, only the females, and they say will only sting you when agitated; don't know about that as no one I know of has ever been.
clean the wood (all of it) and fill their entrance hole with a wood filler (the hole will be perfectly round and about the size of a dime, or smaller, usually on the underside of the piece of lumber) then paint it or coat with a urethane finish. they usually will not come back or be attracted to a piece of finished wood.
good luck
note: they never bothered, but my sister was scared to death of them:-D

 

Oldandconfusedagain is correct.

I also have had a problem with carpenter bees. They are huge and resemble bumblebees except for the shiny black butts.

They are territorial and I had to destroy them they buzzed me for being on my back stoop and anywhere near the hose.

They chew perfectly round holes in wood and there young do not move on. I am down to one and that one has been avoiding me...this winter I am going to follow the advice given and fill and urethane over their holes.

 

awesome, thanks everyone. gonna try that wasp spray out tonight or this weekend maybe. hopefully thatll kill some of them off so i can get in there.
heres a picture.
You can kind of see where the bees have burrowed their way in. Theyre actually coming out of a hole they made into that darker square area instead of the gap in the wood there. this is just the retaining wall by my driveway so i wont have to worry about them in my house thankfully.

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u181/Kronix42/IMG_0101.jpg

 

Here is a handy little page i found Steve.

http://www.getridofthings.com/get-rid-of-carpenter-bees.htm

 

Hi KingSteve, if you are going to use the wasp spray, spray them after dark. They will not fly in the dark, and you will be safe, and not worry about agitating them like during the day..... That should take care of them

 

I was going to put on my motorcycle helmet and jacket before i spray them too
Really dont like bees..

Nice find Bill. going to have to read through that as well to bee proof my wall. seems like theres bees in it every year.

 

are those lumber ties treated? can't tell by the picture but if they are I'm surprised. usually carpenter bees are put off by treated lumber. you might also try to push a couple of mothballs into the opening. or also try and get a teaspoon or so of Boric Acid crystals in there. seen these have some luck. at least it is a cheap alternative to try. filling the hole and priming and painting with some kind of finish is the only guaranteed solution I know of. good luck

 

I forgot. since only the females can sting, and it is difficult to tell the sexes apart, here's a little tip: look real hard and you can see the females are buzzing around wearing little, tiny, drum roll please,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,high heels!!!:-D:-D:-D:-D:-D:-D:-D

 

Yeah i dont think it was ever treated. It might have been but i really dont remember. Ill probably take the long route and finish that wall. Im sure its been years, if ever, since it was finished last. I did my deck last year, i should have taken the time to do the wall too.

I'll be sure to take a magnifying glass with me on my little bee hunting adventure this weekend in an effort to find those high heels

 

Beware KingSteve!! Some of those bee-gals wear tennis shoes!
Not all wear hi-heals! :-D roflmao roflmao roflmao

 

I really doubt these are carpenter bees as they are normally solitary. But just in case, here's how I got rid of mine. Get you a couple of badminton rackets, one for each hand. Carpenter bees usually will hover in front of you as you slowly approach them. You can get a pretty good workout swinging at several bees with both hands but your neighbors will probably think you're a bit loopy.

BTW, I've found tennis rackets are too heavy, therefore your response time is shortened. Racketball rackets are a bit too short. Badminton rackets are the perfect balance of length and weight and you can usually get them really cheap at a yard sale.

 

Oh, now you have GOT to be kidding! those bees will SWARM him! Carpenter or not, swinging a racket at them will for sure make them mad..... The wasp spray is the way to go here, NOT with badminton rackets

 

Alright To do this job you will need the following tools.

1. Gas/gas can (any color and size, bigger the better)
2. Arrow (with sharp point)
3. Bow any kind of bow
4. Rag (most likely one you dont want anymore)

First Off Id like to say Id pour the gas all over the nest and the wood around it. If you think they are under ground. Then dig around with a shovel and look under ground. If nothing then just pour gas all over the area. Then step 20 ft back and take a few shots at your neighbors tree or cat once after a few miss shots and you feel confortable put the Rag on the arrow with gas on the rag. Then light it and pull back and boom. Once you hit the target area(which should be about good 15 ft radius then you'll hit your mark, and soon will see flames/smoke (this smoke could last a little while, not to be concern with your would being on fire but it is more the bugs smoke. And once the fire department as came and investigated and watered down the yard and wood work that you have now burnt. You can safely say you did the right thing and got rid of them.

 

LOL, so did I! roflmao

I just had to look at your post Tim!:-D

 

Now I am wondering......:confused I thought he might have posted how he made out over the weekend... Hmmm.... I sure hope he took that wasp spray advice, and not the fire one!rolleyes

 

The fire was just an example. :-D

 

OK, How did he make out? He hasn't posted the results....
Bzzzzzzz

 

Ohhhh, Nooooo http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-scared001.gif

Might have to get the http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-scared006.gif

 

roflmao

well i didnt get a chance to take care of it last weekend. I was out of town at my friends wedding. Hopefully ill be able to do it this weekend if nothing else comes up.

 

I had the same thought when I read the title :cool