swarm-list Mailing List: Re: Extraction in Fremont from outdoor stairs

[Claire Lussier (lussier.claire]

Good to know. Thanks Gerry. Maybe these are a swarm catcher friendly extraction?

	Claire Lussier M. (510) 590-1789

On Thu, Jul 31, 2025 at 5:02 PM Gerald Przybylski <gtp000000 [at] gmail.com> wrote:

from my experience, whenever honey bees are on a man-made structure that has a cavity behind,
I assume the bees are either
scouting the location with the intent of moving in,
or the bees have moved in through a gap, crack, knot-hole, or hole in the wall. (attic vents, chimneys and chimney caps)

The tip off is usually that there's a fixture there,  utility box, discontinuity in trim, soffit,
exterior DWV plumbing, etc.
Bees on a flat wall suggest they cover a hole where a pipe was removed, or a knot hole.

Occasionally I'm surprised.

If the bees leave in the evening, they're scouts.
If they settle in, they already consider the site their home.

With scouts, sometimes the home owner can keep them out if they catch it early enough.
Once colonies start building comb, and especially if raising brood, they're there for good.

If a colony moved in within the last 24 to 48 hours, it may be possible to coax them out.  I did that once.

On 7/31/25 4:12 PM, Claire Lussier wrote:

I talked to the home owner and she assured me this is on the outside of the house on a fence, not inside anything. I think this qualifies as a swarm. 
She says it’s not entering anywhere but hanging out outside. 

On Thu, Jul 31, 2025 at 12:27 PM Gerald Przybylski via swarm-list <swarm-list [at] alamedabees.org> wrote:

44 Via San Dimas

Florie  510 366 7717

Definitely honey bees