Sometimes bees can get into really hard to access locations. This beehive I recently relocated from a Tewantin home is undoubtedly an example of that. They managed to tuck themselves away in the ceiling space between the upper and lower floor in a spot that just could not be identified accurately with an infrared camera. I managed to finally track down their hiding spot with my endoscope, a tool I rarely need to use but an invaluable addition to my kit in these situations.

To complicate issues, this hive was built around a tangle of plumbing pipes and right up in the corner of the cavity. Consequently, it required a full stretch to reach and some working blind as I could not see the whole of the nest from where I was working (the camera had a much better view). The pipework added to the task of figuring out the best way to remove the comb with the least amount of damage.

Fortunately, the queen made an early appearance which was a relief. Once she was captured and caged, I was able to work with a bit more freedom safe in the knowledge that she was safe. With all of the brood comb cut out and placed into a standard hive with the queen the rest of the colony was very compliant in flowing her into their new home, and I was able to take them all away on dusk.

This story has a dark side. A year or so earlier, there was another beehive in the ceiling space right next to where this hive was located. The homeowner contacted a “beekeeper” who happily came a took all the honey but could not find the queen so gave up on the job, instead opting to poison the bees with insecticide (much to the dismay of the homeowner). To add to the incompetence, the entry points were not sealed, and the cavity where the first beehive was located was not filled to prevent another colony moving in.