Do You Have a Honey Bee Colony in Your Walls?
Honey bees play a large role in our ecosystem as one of our primary pollinators of our most popular crops. Their activity is responsible for many of the fruits and vegetables we eat on a regular basis. Not only that, their contribution brings in billions of dollars to the food industry.
In addition to fruits and vegetables such as almonds, blueberries, cucumber and watermelon, honey bee colonies produce an abundance of honey which supports beekeepers across the country and supplies American homes with this delicious treat.
Because of their importance, we want to do our part to protect honey bee colonies. At the same time, colonies can pose a danger if they decide to build their hive inside the wall of your home or other usable structure. It is never recommended that anyone with a bee allergy or no knowledge of bee behavior to attempt to remove a colony on their own. In order to protect the bees and yourself, you should always consult with a professional live bee removal company to perform the removal for you.
Why You Shouldn’t Remove a Colony On Your Own
The number one reason why bee removal is a job best left to the professionals is that honey bees will act defensively if they feel threatened. If you disturb a colony without the adequate protection and tools, there is a good chance you will be stung by multiple bees.
Honey bee stings are fascinating and somewhat unique. Worker bees have a barbed stinger that remains in the skin of their victim. The stinger releases venom that causes inflammation and pain. Some people are allergic to the venom and will have a negative reaction. While sometimes the reaction can be mild, in other cases it can be severe and lead to anaphylactic shock. This kind of reaction requires immediate medical attention and can be lethal.
Another important reason to avoid removing the colony on your own is that colonies can be much larger than meets the eye. A mature honey bee colony could include tens of thousands of bees. Their hives can be quiet large and heavy, resulting in structural damage that could be dangerous during an attempted removal.
How do you know if you have an infestation in your wall?
If you suspect you have a honey bee colony residing inside your walls, there are a few things you should do before taking any action. First, you should verify that the infestation is in fact a honey bee colony. There are a number of different insects that also build their homes inside walls and other structures that may require a different approach and a different professional to handle the job. Yellow jackets, hornets and carpenter bees are insects who commonly invade structures.
There are other telltale signs that you have a honey bee infestation. During the busy season, you will likely see a lot of activity entering and leaving a certain place in your structure. As worker bees leave to go on foraging trips, there will be a lot of in-and-out of their primary access point into their hive.
You may also notice an unexplained stain on your wall or ceiling. In the warm months, a large hive could make a lot of honey that may seep into your walls and cause substantial structural damage.
Removing Bees From the Wall
Live bee removal is ideal when you have a honey bee colony residing in the wall of your home or business. When your technician arrives on your property, they will assess the size of the colony. Colonies that have only been inside your structure for a short time may be easier to remove than colonies that are well established.
Large colonies will often have a lot of beeswax, honey and brood in the cells of the hive. It is not enough to remove the bees themselves. In order to effectively remove the infestation, your technician must completely remove the bees, the honeycomb and the honey from the area. This process is sometimes referred to as neutralization and it helps to ensure that you will not attract other bees or pests in the future.
After the bees and the hive materials are removed, the area will be cleaned to remove any remaining odors that could attract bees in the future. Next, your technician will take steps to bee proof the area to ensure that other bees cannot gain easy access. This may include sealing holes and cracks with a non-toxic sealant and making repairs to the physical structure.
San Diego Live Bee Removal
If you live in Vista, Pacific Beach, Escondido or anywhere in the San Diego area and are dealing with a honey bee colony in the wall of your home or business, your first call should be to the professionals at D-Tek Live Bee Removal. Our team is standing by to dispatch a qualified technician to your property right away to help remove your infestation in a safe and humane manner.