Bees in loft

rsvtoddy

If they are honey bees they will come back! Bumble bees are in no way related to honey bees so will not be using the same nest/hole.

As said get a beekeeper to check it out if you're worried.

I have seen photos of the mess caused when a honey bee nest got so heavy it collapsed a ceiling due to the weight! There can be a lot of honey in there during the summer - upwards of 20kgs! And would you fancy 60,000 angry bees buzzing around your bedroom after the ceiling collapses?

They are generally placid and you could co-exist with them if you wanted.

Mark (an ex beekeeper!)

Debt_Free_Chick

patgc wrote:

I dont want to get the wasp man in to kill them as I do like bees.

As already said, honey bees are protected and must not be destroyed or disturbed.

Contact the local Beekeepers Association. They'll send a local beekeeper out to deal with them.

silvercar

Phone your local council for advice.

I heard buzzing under the floorboards and found them flying in and out of an airbrick. I didn't know what to do as I obviously couldn't block an airbrick. The council sent someone round the same day (apparently they can eat their way through carpet). The guy was dressed in a space suit - clearly you have to be careful with them.

martindow

As has been said before, local bee keeepers will be pleased to collect your swarm. In most places phoning the council or the police is a good idea as bee keepers who are interested in picking up bees often leave their names and phone numbers with them.

patgc

Many thanks for all the suggestions and help.
Had a look this morning and there isnt any sign of any activity around the entrance.
There wasnt a swarm it was just a few bees going in and out. I suppose the most I saw at the entrance after I had blocked it was about 10 of the smaller ones and one larger (not as big though) rounder darker with one stripe bumble type bee.
So hopefully, they have left. Cant see any activity anywhere else around that part of the roof, so, fingers crossed. I will know what top do if they re-appear.

Wig

If I were you, I would unblock the hole, and contact council with a view to contacting a local beekeeper (as has been suggested) OR contact a local beekeeper directly from the website given.

You have no idea what is inside the roof space, and getting expert advice/help with the situation has to be the best advice.

kittiwoz

Since there is no pollen in your loft bees going back and forth from it means one of two things. Either they were scouting it out as a potential site to establish a hive or they swarmed some time when you were out and they were coming and going from a hive they had already established in your loft. Hopefully the former is the case. Otherwise you have sealed in the hive and they will starve to death. If there was a fairly steady stream of bees back and forth that would suggest a hive.

Bumble bees are a different species and have nothing to do with honey bees. They are solitary and do not establish hives. Bumble bees are extremely docile and hardly ever sting. Honey bees generally sting if they feel they are under attack though it varies hive to hive with some being more docile and others more agressive. Honey bees normally die when they sting so it's a last resort for them to protect the hive. Because bee keepers disturb the hive they wear protective gear (a jump suit with elasticated wrists and ankles and hat with a veil). This is because getting stung by bees hurts. It isn't, however, dangerous for most people: If you are allergic to bee stings then it is.

highguyuk

I'm not sure why your not calling out an expert. There is potential for there to be hundreds of bees now trapped in your roofspace. There won't be any activity in the hole ... because you've blocked it. What about all the activity in the hole?! lol.

My alternative, in true moneysavers style, would be to charge rent!