Philadelphia Bee Co.

Philadelphia Bee Co. The Philadelphia Bee Co. is a beekeeping operation based in Philadelphia. Philadelphia has a long history of beekeeping. L.L.

Langstroth, the “Father of American Beekeeping” and inventor of the modern beehive, was a Philadelphia man. continues this proud tradition by maintaining apiaries within the City of Brotherly Love. The company’s founder, Don Shump, has been raising bees since 2007 and manages hives across all regions of Philadelphia.

06/17/2026

REMOVAL UPDATE: Foundation Saga

This removal turned into a real.project. Finding a colony uncased in this much concrete is not something you see everyday.

06/16/2026

REMOVAL UPDATE: Memories

Back at the property where we vacuumed up a late summer nest of European hornets and subsequently had them lifted. This time was an easier time of it. Yellow jackets are off to a slower start this season so this nest was relatively small.

06/15/2026

REMOVAL UPDATE: Church Goers

Box beam honey bee hive in church's porch. Been wrestling with this location for over a year. Good we got a jump on it when we did, as further expansion would have meant more demo.

06/11/2026

REMOVAL UPDATE: Four way

Honey bee removal from a bay window. This spot has seen some traffic...at least 4 different nests over at least as many years!

06/09/2026

REMOVAL UPDATE: That things operational!

Bald faced hornets have finally turned the corner. The workers will be out and ready to greet those unlucky enough to happen upon them. The queens may still be out a bit themselves, as we found out on this one. Nest came down clean. There were more than a dozen workers, but no queen....

5 minutes later her majesty returned to a home that was now missing. After netting her on the wing she was added to the bag filled with her enraged offspring. She did not go willingly, and left with a parting shot.

06/08/2026

Sometimes other animals will enter a hive. Whether it be with nefarious intent or simply looking for a place to rest, it is rarely well received by the colony. Once discovered, the bees will bite the intruder to slow its mobility while they actively sting it.

This moth didn't stand a chance.

06/06/2026

REMOVAL UPDATE: Wired

Got another call from an apartment complex in Far Northeast. We'd pulled bees out for them back in '24, now they had them in another unit. Similar setup as last time but higher up. Convinced every window in the complex has a space under it for bees. Initial cut revealed a wall patch. Then a hive...built into fence wire.

06/04/2026

BEE UPDATE: Honey Harvest '26

The time has finally arrived! We've begun pulling honey for this year's harvest.

06/03/2026

REMOVAL UPDATE: Steely

We don't see as many old colonies these days. This was a rare exception. What showed on the thermal was but a speck of a much larger hive. This beast was almost entirely honey bound save for a couple pieces of capped brood. The setup was challenging. Cross stud was set 4 inches down from the ceiling. The hive went up another foot. It continued to the exterior, horseshoed around a sheet of interior drywall. Tight, finicky work that only allowed for raking with a hive tool.

5 buckets and most of a day later the hives out.

06/02/2026

REMOVAL UPDATE: Bee Magnet

Heading over the bridge for a HB Colony taking up residence in soffit.

Address

Philadelphia, PA
19124

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