How to edit upper panel menu to remove buddy list?

[.m.]

basically templates should be edited for modifying the elements / features of a theme.

header_welcomeblock_member template consists of code like below for the buddy list

<li><a href="javascript:void(0)" onclick="MyBB.popupWindow('{$mybb->settings['bburl']}/misc.php?action=buddypopup&modal=1', null, true); return false;">{$lang->welcome_open_buddy_list}</a></li>

[templates guidance]