Bee hive across the street from my house. (suburban neighborhood).

[mikeofaustin]

I have to take photo's of a bee hive across the street from my house in a tree tomorrow (or on Sunday). Be ready. it's quite impressive considering that bee's have been on constant decline for the last many years. I can see the comb very easily. It's huge. They are in a hollow oak across the street from my house directly above a sidewalk about 18 feet above the cement. I'm tied in my beliefs, because one, the hive is directly above a sidewalk (...and no-one yet has been stung), and the fact that we need all the bee's we can get these days.

My brother in AK (a nature nut), has his opinions as well. He keeps hives on his farm, and he says that Americanized bees are the best for production... He tells me that the media has made them out to be real monsters in their effort to generate revenue for their shows. I hope he's right.

They've apparently been there for a while because for the last couple weeks, I'll get one fly in my window from time to time, and I've wondered where the hive was. I see people all the time go directly under that hive and not have the slightest problem. Even the pregnant women pushing her 2 year old on the way to and from the mail box.

I'm really tied here. I know what the 'right' thing to do is, but is it really the right thing? I think I'll get opinions from the Tnet community (with obvious results).

 

[spartacus53]

I would let them "bee" after all they are on the decline and we need them for fertilizing other plants.

 

[mikeofaustin]

Yep, my thoughts exactly. But, I would feel absolutely terrible if they actually went wild on a passerby,... Especially that wonderfully cute women with her 2 children (one not yet born). I just know her husband would want me to do something. I'm really tied here. I really want to lean toward having the city get ride of them, as I wouldn't be able to deal with her getting stung and something terrible happen.

I'll shoot some photos tomorrow and post them here. On a side note, the hive is quite impressive. In a huge hollow.

 

[Noodle]

I don't know a lot about bees, but this topic caught my attention because we've had problems getting our veggies and orange trees pollinated (not fertilized) over the past two years. This year the bumble bees have taken over. Haven't seen too many honey bees, but something is working; we have many, many mini oranges.

Generally when they congregate and create a new hive, they've not aggressive if you leave them alone. My mom had a colony decide to stick themselves to her bedroom window screen, about 2' x 2'. She called a bee person, who came and had them all subdued and transferred to his place in a matter of hours.

We also have a "bee tree" in our woods just off the driveway. Must be thousands in that old hollow tree. Never a problem with them. They go out during the day and return at night. Never ever thought of killing one or all of them. They work for us.

 

[spartacus53]

I don't know a lot about bees, but this topic caught my attention because we've had problems getting our veggies and orange trees pollinated (not fertilized) over the past two years.

Sorry, that is what I meant, so thanks for correcting me. I am just a bit over tired, been up since 7am this morning and it's nearly 2am and I can't sleep.


Then again, they will fertilize the ground if you kill then and bury them

 

[GroundS.KeepeR]

Cant you find someone with Bee boxes and smoke them out?

 

[Siegfried Schlagrule]

look in the phone book under beekeepers and honey and make some calls. Someone will refer you to a beekeeper who will come out and remove the bees to a safe location and salvage the honey. siegfried schlagrule

 

[WindHarvester]

I would let them "bee" after all they are on the decline and we need them for fertilizing other plants.

That is what I would do as well.

 

[lumbercamp]

I think you mean Africanized bees, not Americanized bees. Africanized bees are the "killer bees". I 've had beehives since the early '70's which are European bees, a very gentle bee. The hive near you may not be a killer bee tree, since people can walk so close to it. Honey bees are not native to the USA. They were brought over from Europe and the Native Indians called them the white mans flies.

 

[spartacus53]

Even if they were African (killer) bees, I would not worry too much. I always travel with a colony of bats and I do keep them hungry.

Bats have teeth and chew their food. Seventy percent of all bats eat insects. One bat can eat more than a thousand insects in one hour!

 

[Mighty AP]

Even if they were African (killer) bees, I would not worry too much. I always travel with a colony of bats and I do keep them hungry.

Bats have teeth and chew their food. Seventy percent of all bats eat insects. One bat can eat more than a thousand insects in one hour!

Do you breed these bats? Where do I get a colony of bats these days? I got an empty bellfry here on my tar-paper shack & lots of insects...........

 

[spartacus53]

I think the Beatles said it best "Let Them BEE"


" name="allowFullScreen" >

 

[spartacus53]

if you go around them on a hot day make sure to cover up!

Why is that, maybe they hate both the Beatles and the bats?

 

[packerbacker]

Personally I'd call a beekeeper. He would safely remove them and put 'em to work like the slaves they're meant to be. If someone did manage to get stung, they would probably get pee-o'd and throw a bug bomb at the hive or do some other stupid thing to harm the bees. For the bees' sake, call a keeper.

 

[dpitt8]

i see the logic to both main arguements.

1. they haven't attacked anyone so it would be easy to let them stay. but like others have said the moment they end up stinging someone (provoked or not) someone will want to kill them quickly with whatever method is easiest and cheapest usually.

2. For the bees safety get them relocated by a beekeeper. That one I agree with more. At the very least consult a professional beekeeper to see what they advise.