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Hi,
I have this constant problem of honey bees constructing honey comb in my apartment balcony. Since the balcony is used as an utility area with washing machine and for drying clothes, everytime there is an honey comb in the apartment ceiling, we call in a guy who puts smoke in the balcony and chase away the bees. Within 2-3 months they are back, wonder what is it with my balcony that they find it so fascinating to build the comb. The comb has been constructed and destroyed almost 4-5 times in the last 2 years. Every time they build it, we wont be able to use the balcony for 2-3 days till that honey comb destroyer (apologies for lack of better word) comes, puts smoke and chases them away.
Wanted to check, if there is any solution to this menace? Are there any paint coats or something that can prevent honey bees from building their comb in the balcony?

Why don't you cover this balcony with grill + Mesh/transparent fiber sheet or hanging outdoor collapsable mats, unless there are any objection to cover the balcony area by the apartment builder/association.

I have the grills, but no mesh or fiber sheet. If nothing else works and if the menace goes out of hand, probably I will try putting fiber sheets. Although I am not in favour of putting any sheets since we use that balcony to dry clothes and keeping it closed will not help. I still dont understand why the bees prefer my balcony when there are 88 houses in the apartment complex and more than 150 balconies put together. Also is there anything that bees are usually attracted to, that they find in my balcony??

Hi,
Looks like your home is next to nature,fresh,maintained neat.There is same issue in my flat too.I myself smoked them out(After a lot research) ,just to make sure that bee hive destroyer doesn't kill them.Off course its unavoidable to clean with out killing some 500 bees out of lakhs.To my surprise one fine day they just attacked like a alien war.We thought its a rain,with in 15 minutes lakhs of bees gathered in the same spot.One observation i could do is that the queen bee will inspect the place for a week before it invites the slaves to built hive in the same location.
One solution ,make sure you clean the smoked location and apply a fresh coat of paint.just spray bagon or any home pesticide regularly for week .
Few images of my pets:) on balcony roof.....

Regards
Ar.praveen.n
Ardes Architects and Interior Designers
ardesarchitects@gmail.com

Thanks Praveen for the reply. Yea my balcony faces Madivala lake and has got landscaped garden and bushes around. I will probably get the balcony ceiling repainted. Does painting it with oil paints (the ones used to paint window grills) help to prevent them?
Once when there were a few hundred bees buzzing in the balcony (probably making an inspection ) we sprayed baygon through the balcony window mosquito mesh. That time they did not construct the comb but it was heart wrenching to see that we ended up killing several hundred bees. I still feel guilty about that, but then there are hardly any options.