Bee Control: Protect Your Home or Business
Facts
- There are approximately 20,000 species of bees around the world and 4,000 different types in the United States.
- The honeybee is not native to North America. Originally from Italy, these insects were bred for their gentleness and brought over by early settlers.
- Bumble bees are capable of creating vibrations strong enough to extract pollen from tomatoes.
Appearance
The most common species, honey bees, bumble bees, and carpenter bees, range in size from one-half to one inch long. The smallest are honey bees, which have fine hair on their black and gold banded bodies. Carpenter bees are slightly bigger and have dark, smooth abdomens. Bumble bees are large and round with fuzzy yellow and black bodies.
All bees have six limbs, a pair of antennae, and wings. Females, however, are the only ones that carry pollen on their legs or abdomens and move it between plants.
How Do Bees Get Inside Buildings?
A bee can get into a home through open doors or windows with damaged screens. Knots in wooden siding and small crevices in corners around roofs and fireplaces also provide access to attics or the spaces inside exterior walls.
In businesses like warehouses and factories, bees can enter through delivery bays or gaps where utilities and pipes connect. Flowers by hotel entrances or landscaping close to office buildings can attract bees, and the insects may follow visitors indoors.
Signs of Bee Infestation
- Noise: You may hear loud buzzing sounds, especially in areas where there are large colonies, like those of honeybees.
- Swarms: When a hive becomes too crowded, half of the population will go off to find a new home and establish another colony. You may see swarms of bees flying around in search of a place to live.
- Nests: Some bees nest in clumps of grass or abandoned rodent dens. Piles of displaced dirt around burrows in the earth and low-flying insects near the ground might indicate the presence of these pests.
- Holes: Carpenter bees bore pencil-sized circles into wood to lay their eggs. You might spot these openings along a building’s roofline or on other unpainted surfaces with a telltale pile of sawdust-like debris lying underneath.
Problems Caused by Bees
A bee infestation can cause damage to structures. Carpenter bees can weaken decks or railings and leave unsightly holes in fascia and home exteriors. Swarming honey bees may also build hives inside walls, causing issues and unnerving residents.
Close contact with bees may result in painful stings, which are dangerous for those who are allergic. Nests often cause trouble at places like schools or daycare centers. Bee hives might also deter customers from entering medical facilities or shopping at garden centers, outdoor markets, and other stores.
Prevention Tips
To discourage bees from coming inside, make sure windows and doors seal properly and keep screens in good repair. Fill gaps in siding as well as openings around wiring or plumbing. Don’t plant flowers and shrubs known to attract bees near entrances.
Bees are beneficial insects. They play an important role by pollinating the plants we use for food. In some locations, it’s illegal to harm bees. It’s best to leave them alone whenever possible. Contact Western Pest Services if you need help with bee problems around your home or business.