Honeycomb Melt Down Advisory

You may have an established Africanized honeybee colony. They produce honeycomb and store honey just like European “domestic” honeybee colonies. Our specialist will use various devices and techniques to determine the presence of honeycomb. This is done by examining the age, size or pollen foraging activity of the abated honeybee colony. We often detect the honeycomb by probing the site and sometimes the comb is partially visible. To an experienced specialist, honeycomb may also be evident by its scent. You are hereby advised that there is a strong likelihood of future honeycomb melt down problems if the honeycomb is not removed before it melts and runs down, causing structural damage. We commonly remove in excess of 5 gallons of honey-filled honeycomb when we perform a comb removal.

We strongly recommend that you consider having the honeycomb removed as soon as possible for the following reasons:

1. Honeybees maintain and tend their honeycomb to keep it from melting. They actually bring in as much as a gallon of water an hour, deposit the water on the comb and then fan the honeycomb to cool it and keep it from melting. After the bees are abated and are no longer cooling the honeycomb, the comb will begin to melt, the honey liquefies and begins dripping and puddling. Like water, the honey and melted beeswax will seek the shortest path downward. Honeycomb melt down will cause saturation of building materials and may weaken them, sometimes causing structural failure. There is often noticeable discoloration to interior surfaces and collapse of ceilings and walls can occur. Additionally, there can be a very disagreeable stench. It is imperative to remove it before the damage occurs.

2. If the honeycomb is not promptly removed, your chance of re-infestation at the site or other sites around your structure and grounds is always statistically much higher. Bees from other colonies will be attracted to the site and attempt to rob out the honey from the unprotected honeycomb, even though it has been treated with pesticides. The bee pheromone at the site can be detected from a considerable distance away and the undefended honey is irresistible to other bees. Ultimately, this will lead to re-infestation. A passing swarm will occupy a former bee site, or a site nearby, in preference to a new site.

3. Dripping honey, honeycomb and rotting brood will attract ants, moths, flies, cockroaches, mice, pack rats and other pests.

Whether or not you decide to have the honeycomb removed, it is imperative that all access to the site is completely sealed within seventy-two (72) hours after service. Please be advised that this is a minimum requirement to protect the site from robbing and re-infestation. Your chances of future infestation at this site or other sites nearby are still statistically much higher unless the honeycomb is removed.

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