When we think of pests, we rarely think of bees. Bees are very beneficial insects, being responsible for a large percentage of the pollination that goes on in nature. For the most part, bees are domesticated when they are in or near a residential area. However, there are situations in which bees will leave their hives and look to set up new colonies, and that’s when they may set up in or near someone’s home. In this situation, bees can be considered pests. Let’s take a closer look at how this can happen and what you can do about it.
Circumstances in which bees can be considered pests
If you have a couple of bees flying around your property every now and then, they are not much of an issue – in fact they can be very good for the health of your yard or garden. However, if the bees set up a nest inside a tree cavity or, even worse, in the wall voids of the home, then you have a real problem on your hands. Bees can be just as dangerous and ferocious when defending their nests as wasps, so having a nest on your property will heighten the risk of a bee attack. In this situation, the bees can be considered pests that have to be removed one way or the other.
How bee infestations are controlled
Bees can be controlled in one of two ways – the classic way, which is simply killing off the entire colony along with the queen, and the non-lethal way, which is relocating the colony to a beekeeper. In either situation, you will need the help of a pro to ensure that the procedure is carried out safely.
Generally speaking though, the first option is usually followed by most homeowners, because transplanting the entire colony can be more time consuming and more expensive. However, if there is a beekeeper nearby who would be interested in buying the colony, then you can offset the control costs by selling it to him.
Issues may also occur when trying to control bee colonies that have set up inside the wall voids of the home. In these situations, the house will likely need to be evacuated during the control procedure, because the bees may enter the home in a state of frenzy and attack the inhabitants.
If you would like to know more information about the bee control process, or if you have a bee infestation on your property, contact us today.