Yikes, I am reading old posts and seeing that if it is bees, after they leave, you have decaying honey to deal with. I guess I'll have to wait til they show up again and pay someone to look at them to make sure they are bees, then get out the checkbook. How does one tell how high up in the wall they would be living?

If they're not aggressive you can catch them in a jar. you could probably layout some honey in a dish on a bright day and catch some that way.

Am I to understand Queenie is probably overwintering in there? I'd like to screen it and then just use my nose, but I feel like it would be cruel to trap her. I try to co-exist with everyone because it's for my benefit. I trap some wasps but only right next to the door where they will fight us getting in sometimes.

You aren't sure if you're dealing with honeybees or something else. Unless you make a positive ID, then no one is going to be able to tell you how to deal with it.

If they are wasps, they'll find another way out, perhaps via a bedroom. locking them in is hardly a wise move.

You could find a local beekeeper to have a look for positive I D, let us know what he
says, then we can give you second opinion.
Konrad

Sighhhhh another 8 inches of snow last night and six more on the way for Saturday. Guess it'll be a few months before I need to call someone for i.d. anyway :(

Did I say SIX? It's 12 to 20!