Bees and Wasps

Even though bees are considered a beneficial insect, we must remember that we live in a world in which flying insects are at home. Our homes, gardens, trees, pools, and more are all part of the bee habitat. In most cases, we are able to co-exist with bees and wasps without any problem. However, when bees, wasps, and hornets become a nuisance, or a threat; then it's time to call the bee removal professionals at Bizzy Bees Pest Control.
When a bee colony is found in a building wall, the bees are either removed or killed when that process is complete the hive should also be removed. If the hive is not removed, the wax combs normally cooled by the bees will melt and allow honey to flow down through the walls. The unattended honey will become rancid causing orders and stains to walls and or ceilings. Worse yet the walls and ceilings can deteriorate or collapse resulting in expensive repairs. The unattended honey also attracts robber bees and wasps that may persist for several years. The dead bees will attract carpet beetles and other insects.

Did you know?

Bees have 5 eyes
Bees fly about 20 mph
Bees are insects, so they have 6 legs
Male bees in the hive are called drones
Female bees in the hive (except the queen) are called worker bees
Losing its stinger will cause a bee to die
Bees have been here around 30 million years!
Bees carry pollen on their hind legs called a pollen basket or corbicula
An average beehive can hold around 50,000 bees
Foragers must collect nectar from about 2 million flowers to make 1 pound of honey.
The average forager makes about 1/12 th of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime.
Average per capita honey consumption in the US is 1.3 pounds.
Bees have 2 pairs of wings.
The principal form of communication among honey bees is through chemicals called pheromones.
Bees are important, because they pollinate approximately 130 agricultural crops in the US including fruit, fiber, nut, and vegetable crops. Bee pollination adds approximately 14 billion dollars annually to improved crop yield and quality.

Is honeybee one word or two?
Many people notice that dictionaries list "honeybee" as one word. However, entomologists use the two-word naming convention "honey bee." Both are correct!

BEE SAFE!
Do not mess with the Bees!!
POTENTIAL NESTING SITES
Bees will choose a nesting site in many places where people may disturb them. Nesting cavities may include: buckets, cans, empty boxes, old tires, or any container ranging in volume from as little as 2 to 10 gallons and more. Bees will also choose infrequently used vehicles, lumber piles, holes and cavities in fences, trees, and the ground, in sheds, garages, and other outbuildings between walls or in the open, low decks or spaces under buildings. REMOVE POTENTIAL NEST SITES AROUND BUILDINGS.
GENERAL PRECAUTIONS

Listen for buzzing and look for bees entering or leaving the same area indicating a nest or swarm of bees.
Carefully enter sheds and outbuildings where bees may nest.
Examine work areas prior to using noisy power equipment such as lawn mowers, weed cutters, and chain saws.
Examine areas for bees before tying up or penning pets and livestock.
Watch for bees when outdoors.
Never disturb a swarm or colony of bees
Teach children to be cautious around and respectful to all bees.
If you know you are allergic to bee stings, check with your doctor about a sting kit.
Have a bee safety plan in place for your family.

BEE PROOFING YOUR BUILDINGS AND YARD

Remove potential nesting sites.
Inspect outside walls and eves of your house and other buildings.
Seal opening greater than1/8-inch in walls, around chimneys, pluming, and other openings.
Install screens (1/8-inch hardware cloth) over rain spouts, vents, cavities of trees and fence posts, water meter/utility boxes, etc.
From spring through the fall inspect once or twice per week for bee activity around your house and yard.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU FIND BEES ON YOUR PROPERTY

STAY AWAY FROM ALL HONEY BEE SWARMS AND COLONIES.
GET AWAY FROM BEES AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
WHILE RUNNING AWAY PROTECT YOUR FACE AND EYES AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
TAKE SHELTER IN AN ENCLOSED AREA SUCH AS A CAR, TRUCK OR BUILDING.
DO NOT SWAT AT BEES; RAPID MOVEMENTS WILL CAUSE THEM TO STING.

WHAT TO DO IF STUNG

GET AWAY FROM BEES AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. GO TO A SAFE AREA AWAY FROM THE BEES SUCH AS INSIDE A CAR, TRUCK OR BUILDING.
PULL OR SCRAPE STINGS FROM SKIN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. MOST VENOM IS RELEASED WITHIN 1 MINUTE.
WASH STUNG AREAS WITH SOAP AND WATER LIKE ANY OTHER WOUND TO PREVENT INFECTION.
APPLY ICE TO RELIEVE PAIN AND SWELLING.
SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION IF BREATHING IS DIFFICULT, IF STUNG MANY TIMES, OR IF ALLERGIC TO BEE STINGS.

AFRICANIZED AND EUROPEAN HONEY BEES
Africanized honey bees are well established in the wild population of honey bees in Texas. The Africanized bee is a hybrid (mixture) of African and European honey bee subspecies. Both are not native to the Americas. As a hybrid the Africanized bee appears identical to European honey bees. Individual foraging European and Africanized bees are highly unlikely to sting. A swarm rarely stings people when in flight or temporarily at rest. However, established Africanized colonies are more highly defensive toward perceived predators than European colonies.
SIMILARITIES

Look the same
Protect their nests from predators by stinging
An individual bee can sting only once and then dies
Have the same kind of venom
Pollinate flowers, produce honey and wax

AFRICANIZED BEES

Respond quickly to disturbances by people and animals 50 feet or more from the nest.
Sense vibrations from power equipment 100 feet or more from the nest.
Sting in large numbers.
Will chase an enemy up to a ¼ mile or more.
Have a higher rate of reproduction (swarm more frequently).
Nest in smaller cavities and sometimes underground (e.g. water meters and animal burrows).

To see what all the Buzz is about, call the professionals at Bizzy Bees!

Toll Free: (800) INSECTS Phone: (972) 416-9404 Fax: (972) 242-0388

Email: iwantinfo@bizzybees.com
2812 Trinity Square #100 Carrollton, Texas 75006