Spring is in the air… and there are swarms of bees looking for new homes. Despite the benefits they bring to the environment, most people don't want a beehive close to home (even if insects don't think about anything other than their wax!). So read on to learn what to do with these little pollinators if they decide to settle on your property. Although they can annoy if too close to home or worry someone with allergies, consider that they are not aggressive insects (unless they are actually disturbed or harassed and need to defend themselves) and that the use of insecticides against these valuable insects is a criminal offense., as it leads to the destruction of entire colonies and hives, very important resources for pollination and the production of honey and other products.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Getting rid of the bees in the house
Step 1. Understand what you are dealing with
Before taking any action, it is important to know that you are absolutely looking after bees and not wasps or hornets. Bees are fundamental pollinators for nature, they are not aggressive or dangerous (unless someone in your family is allergic); therefore you should by all means avoid killing them if possible.
- You can recognize bees by looking at their appearance (this is easier if you can find a dead one). Look for body hair; all bees have them, while wasps tend to be smooth.
- Try to look at the nest too. The honey bees build their nests of wax, giving a "honeycomb" shape, while the other biting insects build the nest in wood fiber or mud.
- Bees are typically most active in spring, when they collect pollen. Pay attention when they fly back and forth from the nest.
Step 2. Call a local beekeeper
If you have confirmed that they are indeed honey bees and have identified the location of their nest (keep in mind that they prefer places like wall cavities, roofs and closed chimneys), the first thing to do should be to call a beekeeper. of the area. Not only will it be happy to remove the bees, it could also save an endangered species. Honey bees are rapidly disappearing, and without their pollinating action, every plant on Earth could become extinct and disappear with devastating consequences.
- Beekeepers often physically remove both bees and the hive, without the need to exterminate them. They can do this for free or they may ask you for a payment, based on the location of the nest and the effort required to remove them. In some places, they might even pay you.
- The beekeeper typically cuts the honeycombs with the brood inside and places them in the armor which he will later transfer to his own hive.
- However, if the nest is difficult to reach, the beekeeper can use a special vacuum cleaner to collect the bees without killing them.
- If the nest is behind a wall it may be necessary to call a bricklayer to tear down part of the wall and gain access to the bees. As the homeowner you will have to bear the cost of this and any subsequent repairs.
- The bees start to fidget when the beekeeper approaches to retrieve them. Therefore, you should keep the family indoors, especially children and pets, until the work is completed. The beekeeper is protected by his own specific equipment.
Step 1. Set up a trap
Another way to remove bees without killing them is to trap them outside the nest. However, this is a time-consuming solution, so the process should only be undertaken by those in no rush to get rid of the bees.
- To trap them, you need a cone to attach to the exit of the hive made of wire mesh. The wide end of the cone must be fixed above the entrance to the hive, while the narrow end should have an exit hole with a diameter of not more than 1 cm; in this way the bees are able to get out of the cone, but they are no longer able to re-enter.
- For this method to work, it is imperative that you seal all other entrances (eg holes and cracks) leading to the hive, otherwise the bees will simply find a "back door".
- To make sure the trapped bees can survive, you need to place a second, small hive (which a beekeeper can provide you with) as close to the exit cone as possible. This small hive is also called the "core" and contains a new queen, honey and a small number of worker bees. When the trapped bees realize they can no longer return to their original nest, they will join this new colony.
- Depending on the size of the original hive, this process can take up to two months before most bees are out. The original queen will not abandon her brood, so when finished you will need to spray insecticide into the wall to kill her and any remaining bees.
Part 2 of 3: Getting rid of the bees in the garden
Step 1. Wait for time to run its course
If the bees have nested in a tree, enclosure, or other area near your home, you should simply wait and allow the bee season to pass.
- Bees are usually not very aggressive (unless they feel they are in danger), so if you let them go about their business, you shouldn't have any problems.
- When the winter cold arrives, the worker bees die and the new queens leave the hive. At that moment you can remove the nest.
- Of course, you can limit yourself to waiting only if the bees do not interfere with your activities in the garden and with the possibility of using them and enjoying them, and if no one in the family is allergic to their poison.
Step 2. Call a beekeeper
If you can find a local beekeeper willing to help you solve the problem, he can save most bees by moving them to a new hive. This can be done in several ways.
- If the hive is within easy reach, the beekeeper can simply take out the honeycomb containing the brood and bees and place it directly into a new hive.
- Alternatively, if the nest is built in a tree or fence, it can place a new hive over the entrance to the nest and allow the bees to enter on their own.
- Finally, if the hive is in a hard-to-reach spot, the beekeeper can create a wire mesh cone (like the one described in the previous section) and apply it over the hive entrance. This way the worker bees will be trapped in the new container. At this point a new hive core will be hung and the trapped bees will join this new colony.
Step 3. Transfer them
If bees have created their nest inside a tree, one possible solution is to simply relocate them by carefully cutting the section of the tree that contains the bees and moving it to a secluded location away from home.
- If you decide to apply this method, it would be advisable to do it as soon as possible at the beginning of the year, when the bees have not yet formed a too large colony.
- Be sure to cover yourself carefully with protective clothing, as bees become more aggressive if disturbed, for example when you cut the branch near their hive.
- Choose carefully the new location of the hive; do not place it on a neighbor's land without their permission and do not move it to any place where people might accidentally run into it.
Part 3 of 3: Preventing a New Infestation
Step 1. Seal the holes in the exterior walls
The best way to prevent bees from settling inside the walls of the house is to prevent them from entering. You can achieve this by checking the perimeter walls for holes or cracks large enough to fit a pencil in, and then seal them with putty or putty.
Step 2. Fill the cavities in the wall
You have to not only seal the entrances, but also fill the cavities in the walls; in this way, even if the bees manage to enter, they will not have enough space to build a hive. The best, easiest and quickest way to fill holes is to use foam foam.
Step 3. Remove any traces of honey or wax
As mentioned above, bees are attracted to places where other bees have already built their hives, because they smell like honey or wax.
- Therefore it is important to completely eliminate these substances once you have got rid of their nest.
- If the hive was outdoors you can use a compressor, while if it was at home you can clean with fairly strong and aggressive household products and, to complete the work, you will eventually have to paint the wall.
Step 4. Use natural repellents
Another simple way to prevent a bee infestation is to use natural repellents to prevent them from building a nest near your home. You can try one of the following solutions:
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Lemongrass:
it is believed that its scent can repel bees and wasps. You can take advantage of this by growing lemongrass plants in the garden or by burning candles or lemongrass incense outdoors during bee season.
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Cucumber peels:
Cucumber peels are also thought to repel bees naturally. It is enough to sprinkle some on the lawn and flower beds. This discourages bees and also helps fertilize the garden!
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Sugar water:
an alternative technique is to dissolve a couple of tablespoons of sugar in a basin of water and leave it outside in the garden. Bees are attracted to the sweet scent of water (thinking it is honey) and end up drowning. The method is even more effective if you add a little washing-up liquid to the water, as it melts the wax that covers the body of the bees, which makes them drown more easily.
Warnings
- If a beekeeper comes to your home to remove bees, be very careful and check that they have insurance coverage in case any accident should occur, otherwise you could be responsible for their safety.
- The use of insecticides against these precious insects is a criminal offense, a neighbor can sue you if you spray poisons against these insects.
- Do not throw stones at the swarm and do not perform any other senseless act of blatant provocation towards the bees.
- Make sure the neighbors know what's going on in case one of them is allergic to bee stings.
