Though bees
are integral to maintaining our natural biodiversity - from providing delicious
honey to keeping our blossoms blooming; they can become pesky when invading the
home. It is isn’t uncommon in the summer for a few stray bees to enter our
properties, especially if we have indoor plants and delicious food, but what
are the signs of an actual infestation?
If you
notice any of these signs below, it is best that you get it sorted as soon as
possible. Though it is tempting to bury your head in the sand and hope that the
problem goes away on its own - this can actually make the issue worse,
especially if the queen bee continues to reproduce. It is estimated that a
queen bee can lay around 2,000 eggs in one day, and bees can take around three
weeks to develop into fully fledged adults. This can create a baffling amount
of bees - which is why it is imperative that you get it taken care of sooner
rather than later.
As a leading
pest removal service, we at Mr Wasp are no strangers to flying pesky insects - below,
we have compiled a list of the different signs of a bee infestation and
explored why you should get it sorted.
Signs of a
Bee
Infestation
Around the
world, there are a myriad of different types of bees, though the ones that we
are most familiar with are the honeybees and bumblebees.
Excessive amount of bees
The first
indication that you might have a bee infestation is if you notice an excessive
number of bees flying around your home. Not only is this highly irritating and
stressful, but it can also be unhygienic as bees can bring different bacteria
in from the outside. If it looks like bees are coming from multiple directions
and you can’t get rid of them, it is likely that you have a beehive colony in
your home.
Active Nest
If you spot
an active bee’s nest - whether in the internal structure of your house or
outside in your garden - then it is
highly probable that bees are infesting your home. Active nests can be routed
in trees, underneath your home’s floorboards, in your garage or shed, or hidden
in wall voids. If you suspect that you have a bee infestation but cannot see a
blatant nest, then patiently keep an eye on the thoroughfare for the bees
moving around your home. Are they going to and from a specific spot and laden
with pollen? This will be a clear indicator as to where the nest is.
Dark patches on the walls or ceilings
If you
notice dark patches emerging on your walls or ceilings, this could be a sign of
a honeybee infestation. This is because, the honeybees have built a nest
in-between your walls or above your ceiling meaning that this is where the
honey is being produced. The honey from these nests will leave dark patches on
your walls or your ceilings. So this, coupled with an excessive amount of bees
around your home, is a clear indicator that you have a honeybee infestation.
Why you need beehive removal services
Dangerous
Though our
general advice is to just leave bees alone as they are endangered, you should
get your beehive removed if anyone in your family is allergic to bee stings.
What's more, if an allergy goes untreated, anaphylactic shock could occur which
can be fatal in extreme cases.
Despite our
fears, bees are not considered to be aggressive insects - they are just highly
protective of their queen and their beehive. This is why irritating a bee and
frantically swatting at it can cause it to become frantic and more likely to
sting you. What’s more, when a bee feels threatened,it will release a pheromone
which attracts more bees to the site of danger to protect it. Hence why
swatting at a bee in your home - especially if you have a beehive - could
potentially be quite dangerous.
But I thought bees were good for the planet?
It cannot be
denied that bees are good for the planet and are becoming an endangered
species. Bees are a vital source of pollination for our food production,so if
bees become extinct,it will have disastrous consequences for our planet.
This is why
beehive removal services will not exterminate the nest, but rather remove and
relocate it to a safer place. If you do notice a nest in your home,do not
attempt to remove it yourself as this could harm the bees and also yourself.
Trained professionals like us at Mr Wasp will humanely remove the beehive,
giving you peace of mind that both you and your property are safe.
How to prevent a bee infestation
Cover food
One of the
main ways to prevent a bee infestation is to keep all food covered - especially
in the summertime. Bees will be attracted towards every cuisine,but they will
especially be drawn towards sweet and sugary foods like fruit, cakes, sweets
and carbonated drinks. What's more - they will also be attracted towards dairy
products like cheese and meat products too.
With this in
mind, make sure to cover any food products that you have out. We know that it
can be tempting during the summertime to have plenty of al fresco picnics,
drinks, and summery spreads of charcuterie boards, cheeses, salads and fruits.
Though we encourage you to enjoy the hot weather, make sure to cover and
refrigerate soon after use.
Use natural bee repellents
There are
many natural bee repellents that you can purchase and even make yourself. These
include miniature plugin bug repellents that emit high-frequency sonic waves
and sounds that deter bugs from entering the home.
In addition,
ingredients and liquids like peppermint oil, cinnamon, cayenne pepper, liquid
soap, lemongrass, and citronella are great bee and bug repellants. So, make
your own formula of this and spray it around the home. Alternatively, consider
purchasing scented candles in these fragrances to ward off any pesky critters.
Natural
repellents are a great option for those who want to rid the infestation but
also protect endangered bees. It is encouraged to not actively kill the bees
due to the fact that they are critical to society. So, natural bee repellents
are a great alternative.
Educate your children
Though this
won’t directly affect a bee infestation from occurring, educating your children
about the importance of bees as well as how to prevent bee stings is a great
way to minimise the threat of one happening. What’s more, it will teach them
that bee infestations can just be a fact of life.
Simple
things like teaching them how to react when a bee is near, not to disturb the
nest, how to treat bee stings and how important bees are for the environment
will not only make them less fearful of bees but also will minimise the threat
of bee stings.
Mr Wasp: Safe and Efficient Wasp, Bee and Hornet
Control in Cardiff
If you
suspect that you have a bee, wasp or hornet problem at your home or business in
Cardiff, don’t simply ignore it. Here at Mr Wasp, our trained experts can help
safely remove any nests, as well as relocating them to a safer
environment.
We pride
ourselves on complying with relevant regulations as well as being available 24
hours a day 7 days a week, giving you peace of mind that your infestation can
be sorted as soon as possible. We operate a friendly and reliable service,
ensuring that your home or business remains safe from pesky critters in future.
Wherever you are based in South Wales, our team
can help. To find out more about our services, or to read one of our case
studies -
simply
contact us today.
