Dealing with a single bee is a relatively simple task, but having to eliminate an entire colony can be a very difficult and potentially dangerous process. For this reason, you should go to a professional to handle the problem for you. However, you can use some physical characteristics of the bee and nest to identify the species before proceeding. With this information, you can know in advance what you need to do to get rid of it and compare costs when you get quotes from pest control companies. Finally, you can take preventative measures to reduce the risk of the problem coming back in the future.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Recognizing the Species
Step 1. Verify that they are indeed bees
Whenever you notice any insects that look like a bee to you, take a good look at them before taking any action. Make sure it's really a bee and not a wasp or a hornet. You can tell the difference based on these characteristics:
- Hair: bees are hairy all over the body, while wasps and hornets are mostly smooth, although it is necessary to observe them closely to be able to see it;
- Sources of food: bees feed on the nectar of flowers; otherwise, wasps and hornets prefer other insects and / or rummage among food scraps;
- Body thickness: bees are rather plump in the central area, while wasps and hornets have a thinner waist and a more elongated body.
Step 2. Take a picture to determine the type of bee
When you want to get rid of these insects, you have to consider that different species require different interventions. Take a photo to show to a professional exterminator, beekeeper, or even to compare it to web pages, like this one. Usually, you can find honey bees, bumblebees, carpenter bees, and even Africanized bees (also known as killer bees).
Step 3. Recognize the differences between bumblebees and carpenter bees
At first glance they look similar; If you compare insects from photos online and think your infestation is due to one of these two species, do some more research to make sure. Above all, observe:
- The physical appearance: carpenter bees have a black dot on the upper part of the thorax (the area from which the wings and legs develop); they are also less hairy than bumblebees;
- Social life: Carpenter bees are typically solitary by nature, while bumblebees live in swarms.
Step 4. Observe the nest to identify them if necessary
If you can't take a picture (or still can't make out bugs well), don't worry; you can always look at their nest; use this criterion to narrow the range of possible species.
- The honey bee nest is often found in hollow spaces, such as inside trees, logs and fences. Usually, these insects do not exploit man-made structures to create their habitat, although they can sometimes be found in roofs, attics and wall cavities, when there is an access to the outside.
- The bumblebee nest is typically found in or near the ground, such as those of desert rodents, in compost piles or under raised outdoor structures, such as porches or sheds.
- Carpenter bees tend to dig into wood to build their nest. Look out for insects coming and going around dime-sized holes in areas like gutters, porches, and edging.
Step 5. Don't worry if you can't identify them
If you can't recognize the type of bee, don't fret too much. Identifying the type of insect can be useful for understanding the type of intervention needed to get rid of the colony (and consequently being able to compare the estimates from the different companies, in addition to the relative budget), but it is not a fundamental aspect for pest control. Simply contact a specialist company and arrange an inspection for the professionals to identify the insects.
Part 2 of 3: Addressing the Problem
Step 1. Ask yourself if you really need to get rid of bees
If you've only seen them outdoors, you should leave them alone, unless someone is allergic. Remember that these insects play a vital role in the environment by ensuring pollination, but honey bees in particular have been significantly decimated in recent years. Also keep in mind that:
- Although almost all of them have the stinger, they only use it as a last resort; that is to say, you have to exasperate them before they decide to sting you. If you stay calm when you are around them, you shouldn't suffer any consequences; furthermore, some bees (such as carpenter bees' males) do not even have a stinger.
- An exception to the rule is Africanized bees, which become much more aggressive and remain so once disturbed.
Step 2. Take on a nest inside the house
If you notice bees in the house (or you have noticed that those carpenters have dug tunnels in some wooden elements of the building), you are in a situation where it is better to intervene and get rid of them; any damage they may cause to the structure can be minimal at first, but if you don't proceed with a disinfestation, there is a risk that it can extend over time.
- If you leave them undisturbed, the carpenter bees continue to expand their refuge in the wooden structures.
- Honey bees build honeycombs, which can get quite heavy and potentially damage surrounding areas, not to mention that honey can attract other animals as well.
Step 3. Contact a professional to address the problem
Killing a single bee can be a relatively easy task, but tackling an entire hive can be a much more complex and time-consuming process. Know that if it is not done properly and with care, it is very likely that the infestation will recur in the future and that the bees will return to nest again. Also, you must remember that:
- Bees are happy to ignore you until you come near and annoy their nest; Although a single bee sting is quite bearable, when you attack them "at their home" you may find yourself surrounded by dozens, if not hundreds or thousands of small aggressive insects.
- Depending on the type of bee that has infested the area, the pest control method can vary. Professionals typically use smoke, pesticides or other methods to persuade bees to leave the nest and a second hive to extract leftover honey.
- Carpentry work may be required to access the nest and repair damage to the home's structures.
Step 4. Contact the municipal offices
First, you need to figure out if the nest is technically located in a public space or on your property. In the first case, contact the competent body to deal with the problem; if not, contact him anyway, as he may offer you free services to remove the nest, depending on the specific area he is in.
- The types of free services (if available) depend on the area you are in; at times, they may involve the removal of bees and the hive, while in other circumstances only insects, as well as repairs to any damage to the structures, but not always.
- Free services are more likely to be offered when the nest is in a natural structure (such as a tree) rather than in the home or other human constructions; however, it is always worth calling to check availability and how to deal with the facilities on your property.
Step 5. Compare the available options before choosing the free ones
If the public body provides a service to remove the infestation, you don't necessarily have to accept it right away. Keep in mind that although there are technically no costs for you, public interventions don't always cover all the work needed for pest control. First examine the type of work that is actually made available to you and then personally contact private companies to be able to evaluate the different alternatives.
- This is a particularly important step if the nest is inside the home structure; to gain access it may be necessary to remove some components of the building to extract the hive, but the free public services do not provide for the final masonry repairs.
- If the proper repairs are not made or are not carried out in a workmanlike manner, you may find yourself a new swarm of bees in the same area; this means that in the long run it may be cheaper to contact a private company that takes care of the disinfestation and that also takes care of the repair work, since it offers a guarantee regarding the future possible settlements of bees.
Step 6. Call a beekeeper before the exterminator to remove the honey bees
If you are sure it is this variety of insects, look for a beekeeper in your area. If possible, it is always better to move bees off your property rather than kill them; remember that their population has been shrinking dramatically in recent years and this is a very serious problem, as these insects play an essential role in the pollination of fruit and vegetables.
If you can't find one in your area, look for a company that specializes in insect pest control; even these professionals may attempt to relocate honey bees before proceeding with elimination
Step 7. Contact bee specialists instead of calling a general pest control company
If bees have nested in the structure of your home (or anywhere else on your property), be prepared for the fact that no matter who you assign for the intervention, walls, floors or ceilings may need to be opened in order to gain access to the hive.. Obviously, this involves a subsequent repair and for this reason you should look for companies that are specialized in bees.
- Such companies are more likely to undertake final repairs as well, while generic ones are limited to getting rid of the insects; accordingly, you should take care of the construction work yourself or hire a builder.
- Furthermore, specialists are more likely to offer a guarantee in the event of a new bee infestation in the same area, which saves more money in the long run.
Part 3 of 3: Avoiding New Infestations
Step 1. Remove all nests and honeycombs
Make sure the company doesn't just kill the insects or relocate them while leaving the hive intact, as this would attract more bees. To avoid new problems in the future, you need to make sure that the old nest is carefully weed out.
Step 2. Proceed with repairs immediately
If the company in charge has to open some parts of the structure of the house in order to reach the nest and does not proceed with the subsequent masonry work, you must immediately do it yourself. Consider that if a bee colony has chosen that place to nest, others will do the same; therefore seals all access as soon as possible.
Also close any openings, cracks, or other access points. Remember that if one bee colony has built its own hive within the facility, others will want to do the same. Examine the area, identify any possible access and seal it with silicone, foam, or any other material suitable for the specific situation
Step 3. Remove any potentially suitable nesting spots from the property
Reduce the number of things that bees consider "good settlements". Get rid of items that have accumulated all over your property and can now become the perfect place for a honeycomb. Based on the specific area you live in, also consider:
- Close access to the cavities and the underlying portion of the elevated structures, such as porches, verandas or external sheds;
- Fill old rodent burrows and other soil holes;
- Put the compost in the containers instead of heaping it outdoors;
- Remove logs and hollow trees.
