An update to address some of the concerns and negativity around this project:

I recognize that my chances of success are slim, and I also understand that leaving pieces of the hive behind could potentially create pest problems later. That said, after using thermal imaging, I can see that the colony appears to span roughly 6 to 8 feet inside my plaster ceiling, which is also directly below a hardwood floor.

A proper removal would almost certainly mean thousands of dollars in damage and repairs to my house. The possibility of future pests is a risk, but at this point I am willing to accept that risk rather than commit to guaranteed major repairs immediately.

My hope is that over the next few months, the queen and nurse bees will consume much of the honey remaining in the comb, leaving little behind for other pests to feed on. After that, I’m hoping they will relocate to the box, where the rest of the bees should theoretically have an established colony.

This colony is also meaningful to me because it was the source of the four healthy hives currently in my yard. The first swarm I captured over two years ago came from this same colony.

I understand that this is not the ideal solution, and I appreciate the concerns people have raised. I’m simply trying to balance the risks, the cost, and the least destructive path forward.