Bees!

[TampaAurora]

I must have made my garden habitable for bees because I now have a small hive growing on a palm frond. It's only about an inch by 2 inches. It's growing in segments like a honey comb, so I'm assuming its a bee hive anyway.What do I do?

[Caralien]

This reminded me of the reason to paint the underside (ceiling) of a porch sky blue.

[tkalex9052]

I'm sorry to say they are probably wasps and not bees.

[TampaAurora]

That's what I'm afraid of! How do I take care of them?

[Quine]

to quote Elmer Fudd...VERY very carefully.

In my opinion, unless the wasps/hornets become a hazard to you, let them be (I so wanted to type bee, but stopped myself ) They also are more of garden helpers then pests.

[Cachetes]

I agree that a few wasps or bees should be no problem, and they are often very beneficial. Except, these small problems often grow into big ones. At that point, her small problem may be something she has to pay good money to get rid of.
I hate to be cruel, but I'd get rid of it now, while it's still small enough to take care of myself. Wasp spray is an option, though it's in her garden. The other option is a big stick, layers of clothing, gloves, and running shoes.

[Sal Vanilla]

Yep. Totally agree. What is worse - is that you will forget the hike is in the palm frond and later when you get the bug to trim (sorry, no self control - although they are not technically bugs) you will disturb their hive and... well... you know the rest.

Here is a site on the natural and un natural ways to get rid of them. http://www.getridofthings.com/get-rid...

[janniecooks]

don't kill the insects, just knock off the nest to the ground and quickly throw it as far away as you can! or cut off that part of the palm frond and toss it away. The wasps will buzz aorund for a while looking for their missing nest but should be gone within a day or two days at most.

[Cachetes]

I agree - no need to kill. I'll add that they may try to rebuild in the same spot (if she doesn't cut the leaf off), so she should go back each day for a few days and knock any rebuild off. As you suggest, in a couple of days, they'll figure out it's a hostile environment and move on.

[TampaAurora]

The frond is cut, and I'm waiting until I am less scared to throw it (we live in a condo full of small children on vacation.)

[morwen]

As small as the hive is just wait until evening to give it a toss. Wasps get slow moving and kind of dopey after the sun goes down and the temp drops a little. Kiddies tend to be out of the way then too. I regularly knock down and stomp little hive starts wherever I see them around the outside of the house. After being repeatedly and severely stung a few years back, I'm not tolerant of the critters building on my house.