Grossly Mis-Diagnosed (…or they are NOT Africanized)

I received a call from Texas singer-songwriter Kim Townsend about honeybees that were in her family home just outside of the DFW Metroplex.  She had originally called a hobby beekeeper, who got in DEEP over his head – and he had not even started a removal yet.  Unprepared, he tried to pry up flashing with a pry-bar, without using the proper tools (i.e. smoker at a minimum).  The bees let him know that he was in their territory! 

When the bees came out to meet him – he immediately declared them to be “Africanized” and told her that she needed to call a professional.  I’m glad she did.  When I performed the removal, the bees were docile, and amicable to moving to a new home.

The soffit was opened up, and the comb exposed… I knew they would probably be hiding in the upper-level soffit as well, and suspected some comb would be up there – and I was correct,  There was another 10-12 pieces of brood and honey comb up in the higher portion of the soffit.

Once the bees were fully removed, the soffit space was filled with insulation, then new soffit boards were put into place, and the seams caulked.

Kim had been interested in beekeeping – and has had an empty hive – just waiting for the right opportunity.  Though the bees I put in her hive were not from her own home – she could now have a hive of her own to manage and learn from.