Bees in Airbrick or vents

It might not look like it but bees are quite picky about where they make their hives. Airbrick and vents are ideal places, for bees but it can pose a threat to humans if they decide to move in.

Airbricks are cool and quiet and generally open to very little interference from the outside world which makes the ideal places for bees to build their hives. Not to mention that the openings nto the brick wont allow any kind of predator into the hive, there is only space enough for insects to pass through, but these will usually steer clear of the bees.

In order to remove the bees without harming them, they need to be lured away and the air brick covered in a manner which prohibits re-entry to the hive. It's a good idea to get an expert to do this as the bees will need encouragement to settle in a transport hive.

The airbrick should be closed up or sealed with a form of quick setting foam cement, or if you would like to retain the use of the air brick clean it as best you can (to prevent bees returning or other pests invading in search of the honey) and close it up for a week or two until any lngering or robber bees have given up.

In the image above, there are bees trying to enter the wall via the airbrick. This is a newly replaced air-brick and the bees will not be able to get in because of the wire mash that has been placed behind the openings. This is standard in most newly build homes, but if the house has been standing for a number of years the wire will have rusted away and you may find that there is nothing to prevent bees from making their hive in the wall or the airbrick.

Last updated on 24 November 2014