Honey bees often leave commercial hives and settle in and around houses. When established between walls, they present special problems. If the services of an apiarist are available, the unpleasant task of killing the hive can be avoided, but usually such a problem must be dealt with urgently.

A method sometimes adopted where insecticides are not acceptable involves fastening come of cardboard over the entrance into the wall, with the broad end against the wall over the problem area, and the small end (about 6-10mm across) outwards. The bees can leave and resettle elsewhere, but they cannot re-enter the small aperture of the cone, so gradually the hive dies out. If the hive has not been established for any length of time, the entire hive may leave.

Reference source: Urban Pest Management in Australia 5th edition.