One of the goals of our bee blogs is to educate our customers on what to expect when they have a bee problem. We’ve talked about what happens when bees land in a tree. We’ve also blogged about what happens when bees infiltrate a structure. How long does bee removal take?
This blog addresses a different issue. This blog is all about how long it takes to remove a hive of bees from a property. So, how long does it take to get rid of bees? The answer is dependent on two factors.
This blog is different. This blog discusses how long it takes to remove a beehive.
Straggler bees are leftovers. When straggler bees return to the nest, they search for the queen before settling into a ball. Some bees who split off to start a new colony will return if they can’t find their queen. These straggler bees can survive outside their hives for a week or two.
To reduce straggler bees, remove hives or swarms in the morning or evening. If done early enough in the morning, the worker bees may not have left the hive for the day; if done later, they may have returned from pollination. Some straggler bees remain after the hive is removed.
If threatened, honey bees will fight. Unless you’re protected, avoid bee colonies. If you encounter flying bees, walk away slowly without swatting. Swiping bees aggravates them. Cover your head with your shirt and run through dense vegetation or into a vehicle or building if attacked by defensive bees. Spokane pest control is best for emergency bee removal near me, you can search this before looking.
Identification
If a property owner suspects honey bees have entered a wall, he/she should confirm it. Carpenter bees, yellow jackets, and European hornets may also invade structures. Honey bees range in color from yellow to black and have black or brown bands on their abdomens. Honey bees are 2/3 inch long and hairy. Honey bees with pollen baskets on their hind legs often carry yellow or dark green pollen balls.
The carpenter bee has yellow, orange, or white thorax hairs and a black, shiny abdomen. Carpenter bees are 3/4-1 inch long and robust. These insects bore half-inch round holes in exterior wood. Yellow jackets lack carpenter and honey bees’ dense body hair. Yellow jackets without pollen baskets don’t forage. The yellow jacket’s abdomen has yellow and black bands. The owner must decide whether to hire a pro. Some beekeepers have experience removing honey bees for a fee, but a carpenter may be needed to rebuild the wall. If you don’t know a local beekeeper, call the Spokane Pest Control. Pest control companies have bee-removal-trained employees.
Wall-Demolition
If possible, the honey bee colony should be saved alive. Honey bee swarms that have recently entered a wall can often be exterminated by injecting a pesticide into the cavity. The bees shouldn’t have built much comb, produced much brood, or stored much honey without a strong nectar flow. Using a pesticide to kill a bee colony that has stored honey in the wall will contaminate the honey. Foraging bees from a nearby managed or feral colony will be attracted to the wall honey, causing unnecessary colony death. Unremoved decaying bees will emit a foul odor for weeks.
Once bees have settled in for a few days, the job gets harder. Comb, brood, and honey are sometimes stored in building walls. Using a pesticide to kill bees and then leaving is risky. The comb attracts wax moths and mice. When comb melts in hot weather, honey can ooze through walls and ceilings, causing extensive damage. To do the job right and avoid problems, use “neutralization.” Neutralization removes all bees, comb, and honey from the wall after extermination to prevent future infestations. No humans or pets should be in the area during removal. To remove previous colony odors, wash the cavity with soapy water. Leave the void area open for a few weeks to allow drying and odor dissipation. Spray foam insulation or fiberglass batting will prevent re-colonization.
Depending on the exterior wall construction, neutralization may be done inside the structure, but removing the wall is preferred. Heat and noise observations in the late evening can reveal the bee colony’s wall space. A stethoscope is useful for assessing colony size. Listen for a drop in bee buzzing to identify the colony’s outline. A screwdriver or hammer tap on the wall increases noise.
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