African honeybees have a habit of picking the hardest spots to reach. In a kitchen in Bryanston, Johannesburg, a colony of Apis mellifera scutellata had settled into the roof behind a structural truss. The manhole was too small for our vacuum, so we had no choice but to cut into the ceiling. Even then, the bees were hiding in a blind spot. To flush them out humanely, we tried a veteran beekeeper’s secret: an almond-scented trick.

Setting Up a Clean Zone

Working inside a kitchen means keeping the mess to a minimum. We covered the counters with sheets, set up the vacuum with extra tubes to reach behind the wall, and started with a small “sightseeing hole” to find the nest before cutting further.

The hive had been there for about a month, so we expected a decent-sized colony. We could hear and see bees straight away, but the nest itself sat on the other side of a beam.

The 38°C Hot Zone

The ceiling space was about 38°C, and that kind of heat causes problems:

• Fragile comb: Fresh wax becomes so soft that if you aren’t careful, the nest can collapse and drown the bees in honey.
• Runny honey: In that heat the honey flows almost like water, which made the job much messier.
• Tight access: The hive was squeezed between beams right at the edge of the roof overhang, which made it hard to fit both a head and a vacuum tube in.

We cut the brood comb out piece by piece. The comb at the centre of the hive was darker, thicker, and much easier to handle than the fresh comb at the edges.

The Secret Almond Trick

The biggest worry in a removal like this is bees running to a spot we can’t reach. We were sure thousands more were hiding behind a thick beam at the back of the hive.

So we tried something new: benzaldehyde, a trick we picked up from a longtime beekeeper. It smells like almond liqueur, but bees can’t stand it. We were worried it might harm them, but in our experience it simply made them scatter. Placed carefully, it acts like a chemical nudge, pushing bees out of blind spots and toward the vacuum.

Did It Work?

It did. The bees clearly moved away from the scent, and more of them started gathering outside. When we climbed into the roof to check (carefully, staying on the concrete sections), we found a big clump of bees in the corner, possibly including the queen, and vacuumed them up.

Pro Tip: A lot of a removal’s time goes into chasing stragglers at the end. Using a repellent to clear the cavity before sealing it saves time and makes sure fewer bees are left behind.

Proofing the Roof

Bees are drawn to the pheromones of old nests, so once the cavity was clear, we packed it with polyester insulation. If there’s no space, a new swarm can’t move into the same spot next season.

A New Home at the Sanctuary

Back at the sanctuary, we re-homed the colony. It was no small amount of bees. Testing new methods like the almond trick is part of how we keep our removals as humane as possible.

Got bees somewhere hard to reach? Don’t try to get to them yourself. Get in touch with Bee Sanctuary, and we’ll remove them safely and humanely.