Established Hive Removed From a Ground Valve Box in Palm Springs, CA
A large ground valve box in Palm Springs was full of layered comb and 10,000+ bees from a long-established colony. We removed it all alive, caught the queen, and sealed the box.
- Bees
- 10,000+
- Hive weight
- 20 lbs
- Queen caught
- Yes
- Difficulty
- 4 / 5
- Price range
- $350–$450
- Date
- July 2026
About This Job
A large ground valve box in Palm Springs told the same story as our La Quinta job, on an even older scale. The dark, aged comb packed into this one (front and center in the photos) is the tell — brown-black comb like that has been raising brood for a long time, so this colony had been quietly living in the box for many seasons.
There were 10,000-plus bees and roughly 20 pounds of comb layered through the box, wrapped around the irrigation valves. We removed it all by hand, working the combs out in sheets and relocating the bees alive, and caught the queen. Between the volume of comb and the tight underground space, the crew scored it a 4 out of 5.
As always, the finish is the fix: the box was cleared and sealed so it can't be recolonized. A valve box should hold valves — not 20 pounds of honeycomb.
- Location
- Palm Springs — Palm Springs, CA
- Removed from
- Large in-ground valve box
- Service
- Full Hive Removal & Relocation
- Price range
- $350–$450
On-Site Photos
Preventing the Next Swarm
“Keep your valve boxes sealed.”
How to keep it from happening again
- Keep valve and irrigation box lids sealed and in good repair — a missing or cracked lid is an open door.
- Dark, brittle comb is a sign of an old colony; the longer a hive sits in a box, the bigger and more entrenched the removal becomes, so call at the first sign of traffic.
- After removal, confirm the box has been cleaned and closed up so the scent trail doesn't draw a fresh swarm.
Bee problem in Palm Springs?
We work Palm Springs and the surrounding area regularly. See how we handle Palm Springs bee removal — or reach out for a free quote.
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