bees how to get rid of them?

[clarelouise]

Can anyone help me out here.
I have noticed a few bee's going in and out and hovering round a 3/4 cm crack in my brickwork at the side of my front door.
I want to know would it be safe for my husband to smoke them out and then fill the gap up with expandable foam?
I am frightened of bees and wasps,I detest them and so does our little boy.
I am now not going out of the house because they are in your face as soon as you open the door.
What's the best way to get rid of them without having to call pest control which isn't cheap?
Any tips would be graetly appreciated.
We need to sort this as soon as possible.
I would say they are mason bees or solitary bees but just a guess really.
Please help!

[Clanad]

The first step would be to call a bee keeper.  If these are honey bees, the bee keeper will pick them up or at least identify them for you at no cost. You should be able to find bee keepers, honey producers, etc., in you phone book.  If that doesn't work for some reason, then I would patch the entrance area.  They won't live long, unless they find another entrance/exit...

[Cetti]

Identify them first, and if they are Mason bees then they are totally non-agressive and pose no threat...but I understand you being wary particularly as they are so close to your door. You cannot kill them as this is illegal and only a trained beekeeper can smoke them out, so know what species your dealing with first - and go from there. Have a look at this site as it may answer some of your questions:

http://www.kentbee.com/faq-bees.htm

[clarelouise]

thank you for you replies.

much appreciated.

[Cetti]

clarelouise, I've been trying to locate another website that might be helpful but I can't find it.....so as you seem pretty desperate what about doing a bit of re-pointing on your damaged brickwork thereby blocking the entrance? A blob of cement ....and end of misery.

My husband had to do this a couple of years ago when we had a similar problem - although it was after the bees had  left, but it worked and no little 'visitors' have returned. Just a thought.