After spending about 12 hours removing a five-year-old beehive from the master bedroom, we moved on to the back bedroom. The smaller nest had been present for about three years and still had ample room to expand.

One issue that adds removal cost to older bee nests is the time-consuming process of exposing the nest. Over time, bees will build bracing comb from the main combs to the side walls. The result is that the plasterboard is virtually impossible to remove in one piece and instead needs delicate removal in small pieces.

Rushing a job like this never saves time. Instead, squashed or stressed bees become agitated and defensive, ultimately slowing down the process.

A further 8 hours of work saw this Caloundra property finally free of a bee infestation for the first time in five years.