There is a large cluster of honeybees hanging from a limb in one of my trees. I know that they were not there yesterday. Am I in danger and what do I do?

That cluster is called a swarm of bees. Swarming is a stage of a natural method of reproduction that takes place in the spring, where the old queen and a variety of different age bees leave the colony to establish a new one.

Generally, honeybees are at their most docile stage when they are swarming. With just a minimum of distance you are safe. You should not let children throw rocks or sticks at it and maybe keep the dog away. They usually leave the same day. Occasionally the swarm will stay for a few days, then they have a tendency to be a little testy. I recommend calling a beekeeper to collect the swarm because they are looking for a new home and it could be yours.

This is the first time that I have ever had honeybees in the wall of my house. They have been there for two days. Do I have to go to the expense of having my wall opened and then repaired to remove the hive?

No, If you have those bees exterminated within the first 5 days of invasion, you will save hundreds of dollars! I do know that bees require morning shade. The height, size and availability of the cavity plays a part also. What originally attracted the scout bees to that location, I am really not 100% sure of. However, I do know what attracts them the second time. That is, once the queen gets in one full egg cycle, which is 21 days, the scent of that honeycomb changes and becomes an attractant. The bees bring in propolis, which is gum/sap gathered from a variety of plants and trees. Finished propolis is also an attractant. In the early stage of that hive those attractants are not usually there, if so, to an extreme minimum.

Whatever nectar/honey that would be in there is still mostly water and will dry up. If you do get bees again next year than you will probably have to go to the expense of removal, repair and bee-proofing of the location.

I have a two story house. The first floor is brick and the second floor is wood. Honeybees have been going in and out of a hole where the brick and wood meet for over a year now. Are the bees in my wall and what do I need to do to get rid of them?

Actually it is very common for honeybees to choose this type of location. The bees are not in your wall, but rather they are in the ceiling of the first floor. The correct way to remove the bees would be to remove some weather boards, or whatever type of material there is above the brick line and expose the complete nest. The complete nest, will have to come out! Once the complete nest is removed, the cavity must be deodorized and returned to pre-bee condition. Next, the weather boards will have to be put back and that section of the house must be bee-proofed to prevent the return of any other honeybees.

Honeybees have been going in and out of a hole underneath the overhang of my roof. I was told that all I need to do is get a beekeeper to put a queen in a new beehive and place it next to the hole and all of the bees will come out and go into the new hive. Is this true?

Nothing could be further from the truth! I get this question quite often. The bees that are flying in and out of that hole happens to like their own queen, and where they are living. If you put up a new beehive next to the original beehive, all you are going to have in the end is two beehives.

I have bees in the ceiling of my house. What are my chances that a beekeeper will come and take the bees, in exchange that he can keep the honey?

Slim to none!

I was told that if I seal up all of the holes and cracks in my house that honey bees would not be able to get into my walls to live, but do honeybees bore or chew to get in?

No, honeybees are not a boring insect. If you are extremely carful to seal all entry points to the internal structural cavities of your house, you will be able to prevent honeybees for making entry. The only areas that will be bee proofed will be the areas that you caulk, so you will have to caulk all open construction joints, gaps, holes, splits, etc... Remember, if you miss a spot the bees will show you where! On the other hand, if you seal up an existing nest, bees will chew to get out and chew to get back in.