Welcome back to the Bee Sanctuary! Today we’re tackling a tricky removal inside a Wendy house (a small timber garden shed). The homeowners noticed bees entering through the exterior, but the real mystery was exactly where they were hiding under the floor.

Using a bit of high-tech gear and some old-school beekeeping patience, we managed to relocate this colony with minimal damage to the structure. Here is how the mission went down.

Thermal Precision: Finding the Hotspot

When a hive is hidden behind timber or drywall, you don’t want to start cutting blindly.

• The Heat Signature: We used a thermal imaging gun to scan the floorboards. Most of the floor showed up cool, but one specific corner lit up with a distinct heat marking.
• The Cluster: That heat is generated by the bees themselves as they vibrate their wing muscles to keep the brood at a constant 34.5°C. The thermal scan showed the nest was concentrated across two main boards, allowing us to mark exactly where to cut.

The Extraction: Sagging Comb and Red Lights

Once we pried up the first board, we realized just how established this colony was.

• The Weight Factor: The comb was so heavy with brood and honey that it started sagging and pulling away from the floorboards the moment they were lifted. If I did this again, I’d drive a few screws into the wood first to help “anchor” the comb as we lifted the boards.
• Red Light District: We switched to red lights for the extraction. African honeybees (Apis mellifera scutellata) can’t see the red spectrum well, which keeps them much calmer and less likely to launch a defensive attack while we’re handling their brood.

The “Lunch Box” Queen Hunt

The most critical part of any removal is securing the Queen.

• The Foraging Clump: We didn’t spot her immediately on the comb, and a large clump of bees had moved to the exterior of the shed. I used a small container (my “lunch box”) to scoop up these clumps and bring them into the hive box.
• The Fanning Signal: To confirm we had her, we placed the hive box outside near the original entrance. Within minutes, the workers at the entrance began fanning—standing with their abdomens raised and flapping their wings to broadcast the Queen’s pheromones. When you see a “river” of bees marching into the box, you know the Queen is inside.

Technical Aftercare: Boosting the Colony

Relocating a hive is stressful for the bees, so we provide immediate support.

• The Feeder Frame: We installed an internal feeder frame filled with a thin 1:1 sugar syrup. This serves two purposes: it gives the bees instant energy to build new comb and stimulates the Queen to keep laying eggs.
• The Queen Guard: We fitted a Queen Guard over the entrance. This allows the smaller worker bees to come and go for foraging but prevents the larger Queen from leaving. We’ll keep this on for about a week until she settles into her new “hotel.”

The Verdict: A Successful Transplantation

What could have been a “jinxed” job turned into a smooth, surgical extraction. By using thermal imaging, we saved the floorboards, and by being patient with the Queen hunt, we ensured the colony stayed together. They are now at the apiary, boosted with syrup and ready to thrive.

Want to see the thermal camera in action on a brick wall?

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