How to Find a Beehive in My Orange Tree

Bees sometimes make hives in trees.

If your orange tree has an unusual amount of bees, perhaps there is a hive or nest in the tree. Before you try to find the hive, decide if this is the right job for you. If you're allergic to bees, it may be best left to someone else, like a professional. Even a mild bee allergy can be severe if stung by a lot of bees. If you do decide to find the beehive yourself, do so gingerly and with caution.

Things You'll Need

• Binoculars
• Protective clothing

Instructions

1. Observe the orange tree from afar with a pair of binoculars. Try to pinpoint where the majority of the bees are flying. Also, try to locate the fly-way -- the path that the bees usually take in and out of the tree to their hive. You may be even able to see the beehive with the binoculars without ever having to get close to the tree.

2. Protect as much of the skin as possible, such as by wearing long pants, a long shirt, scarf, gloves, hat, goggles and a face mask. This can help protect you if a bee does try to sting you or if the bees swarm.

3. Walk slowly toward the tree, scanning for the hive and concentrating on the area where saw the majority of the bees. Don't make any sudden movements, including with your arms. As you get closer to the tree, you should be able to see where the beehive is located, perhaps in the nook between the trunk and a branch.

Tips & Warnings

• Bee stings have the potential to cause anaphylactic shock (anaphylaxis), even to those who don't think they have an allergy.

References

• BeeMaster.com: Hive Inspection

Resources

• National Institutes of Health: Anaphylaxis
• Cooperative Extension System; I Have Honey Bees in a Tree...; Greg Hunt
• University of Minnesota Extension; Wasp and Bee Control; Jeffrey Hahn, et al.