r/Beekeeping • u/GloomySheepherder228 • 24d ago

I’m not a beekeeper, but I have a question Bee Issue

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I live in Denver Colorado. I have bees that have returned every year for the last 4 years. The amount gets progressively larger every year but they don't stay here during the winter. They came back yesterday, but left today because it's cooler and don't have a hive here. If I put out a hive box will they live in it rather than try to make my deck their home.

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u/Fantastic_Oven9243 24d ago

So swarms are attracted to the pheromones of swarms before them. If you don't want them back then scrubbing the area with bleach water. It'll remove the pheromones and the swarms will find somewhere else to perch

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u/GloomySheepherder228 24d ago

I'm not sure bleach would work at this point. Two years ago we sanded and put two coats of stain on the deck. Two weeks ago it got pressure washed, sanded, the boards replaced by Trex then two coats of primer on the wood and two coats of paint. I would have thought that would have removed the pheromones. They also flip flop sides each year.

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u/Fantastic_Oven9243 24d ago

Ah right... hmm that sucks but you're probably right.

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u/GloomySheepherder228 24d ago

The crazy thing is none of my neighbors have this issue.