How to Kill Honey Bees in the Wall With Sevin Dust

Things You'll Need

Hammer
Caulk
2 tbsp. Sevin dust
1 liquid detergent bottle

Honey from the bees' nest can stain your walls.

Honeybees are generally beneficial because they produce honey and wax and pollinate various plants that humans consume. However, they can become a nuisance when they set up their hive in the house wall. They sting when threatened and the honey they produce can seep out through the walls. You should kill honeybees in late winter or early spring, because that's when honey and population levels are at their lowest. Using an insecticide — such as Sevin dust, the brand name for the chemical carbaryl — is the safest way to kill honeybees in the wall.

Step 1

Find the location of the honeybees' nest by tapping on the wall with a hammer at night and listening for buzzing. The wall may feel warm because honey bees keep the brood area of the nest at about 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Find the hole through which honeybees enter and leave the nest.

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Step 2

Caulk all the holes leading to the hive except the one through which you plan to apply the Sevin dust. If the flight hole through which the bees enter and exit the wall is close to the nest, you can leave it open. Otherwise, you should caulk the flight hole and drill another hole just above the nest. For best results, drill this hole from the exterior wall of your house. This prevents the honeybees from escaping once you apply the Sevin dust.

Step 3

Place 2 tbsp. of Sevin dust into an empty liquid detergent bottle. Shake the bottle containing the insecticidal dust, point the opening to the hole leading to the nest and squeeze the bottle to release the contents. Do this at night when all the bees are inside. Follow the manufacturer's label instructions closely.

Step 4

Check the hole leading to the nest seven days after the Sevin dust treatment. In most cases, one application kills all the honeybees. If you see bees flying to and from the hole and hear buzzing when you tap the wall, you may have a large bee colony and have to repeat the treatment.

Step 5

Apply Sevin dust again seven to 10 days after the first treatment if there are still honeybees in the wall.

Step 6

Remove the dead bees, honey and comb from inside the wall and discard them. If you leave these materials in the wall, they may leave permanent stains and attract other nuisance insects.

Warning

Don't consume the insecticide-treated honey in the wall.