A couple days ago a swarm of honey bees took up residence in a non-productive 13 YO olive tree on our property. Saturday I was looking at the tree thinking about removing it. The next evening a mass about fourteen inches high and five inches in diameter, tapering to an inch at the top appeared. No hive visible, just thousands of worker bees clumped on top each other. The Beekeeper association guys said they’re probably swarming in search of a new neighborhood and could well move on within the week.
Up until the day before they arrived we were getting an inch of rain every day for the past month. Not much since they came. I figure the spot they selected is not protected from rain so they might not stay.
I can have them captured and relocated for $200 to $350.00 if they don’t leave. I’m told after capturing they need a special wood box ($60) and vaccination ($40) then a month or two of isolation before being introduced into a new productive hive. While I’m loathe to destroy a critical pollinating species, I’ve already moved our two kids a dozen times and put them through college.
Does anyone know of a non-harmful way they can be convinced to move if they don’t do so on their own? I was thinking I could spray the part of the tree below the swarm with something like citronella oil, nothing likes that stuff. Any educated ideas?