A hive of activity inside house wall

BEE GONE: Beekeeper Mike Eriksen hates killing bees but this situation of a large beehive inside the wall of a Gisborne home gave him no choice. The can of fly spray gives an indication of how big the hive was. Picture by Mike Erikson

Beekeeper Mike Eriksen was recently called to a Gisborne property because buzzing could be heard in the walls.

The residents thought it was wasps . . . and Mike loves killing wasps.

But inspection holes drilled in the walls by Mike showed it was a well-established wild beehive that had been there for at least two years.

The hive had gained entry via the eave on the second-storey and built inside the wall behind a wardrobe.

Mike had to pull the inside lining of the house down to get to the hive.

“It was quite tricky and you don't know what you are going to find, or where.”

Because of its location, there was no chance of relocation so the entire hive — wax, bees and the honey — had to be removed from the home.

Mike first had to use insecticide to reduce the bee numbers, which he hates to do as it goes against the very grain of his beekeeping hobby of more than 30 years.

It took multiple attempts to exterminate.

“I had to get that wax and honey out otherwise other bees will smell it and set up home again.”

The hive filled four buckets.

Mike advises anyone who does hear buzzing and suspects it is a wasp or a beehive to call the council first, as they will then ring someone like him.

“Do not attempt removal yourself. Sometimes people see a hole to a wasp nest and block it up. But they will come and hunt you.

“Wasps can easily make another hole and then they come out angry.”