Honeybees are judged unfairly due to their similarity in appearance to other more aggressive stinging insect species like wasps and hornets. While they are equipped with stingers, a honeybee’s prime interest is in honey production, and it is very unlikely they will pursue you. Typically, honeybees attack only if they sense a threat to their queen or hive, so as long as you respect their personal space, you should be able to coexist without conflict.
Do you have a honeybee problem?
One of the bee behaviors people find most alarming is their tendency to swarm. Contrary to popular belief, a swarm isn’t seeking victims to attack. In all likelihood, it’s actually a group of honeybees searching for a new home. If a hive becomes overpopulated, the queen will set off to establish a new colony. When this occurs, worker bees will surround the queen to protect her while in transit. The colony may stop to rest on a tree or post between locations while scouting bees seek out a favorable venue for the new hive. Ideally, the honeybees will choose to build their nest in a place set away from human activity, but unfortunately, it’s not unusual to find hives in areas where people live, work, and play.
Preventing a honeybee problem
We love honeybees because of their wonderful environmental benefits. They pollinate the plants we depend upon and provide us with delicious honey. But if they choose to nest on a home, they can become a costly problem. Structures with deep, dark crevices, like abandoned cars and old washing machines, are prime real estate for honeybees, so you can help avoid potential nesting on your property by removing unnecessary clutter from your yard.
Bees are also attracted to areas with a steady water supply, so objects that may collect water like bowls or buckets should be removed, and leaky hose faucets should be repaired. Stinging insect nests can also draw other unwanted guests to your yard. Skunks are particularly fond of bees and are known to jostle the nest and snatch up the insect when they come out of the hive. Don’t let your honeybee problem turn into a skunk control problem.
Honeybee removal
If honeybees are nesting in an unobtrusive area of your property and are unlikely to be a nuisance, it is best to leave them where they are. But when honeybees choose to nest inside of your home, it can pose serious complications not only to your safety, but to the structural integrity of your house. Should this occur, do not under any circumstances attempt to remedy the problem alone. While a standard beekeeper will handle hives in easily accessible locations, he or she will not have the skill necessary to remove bees from between your walls. If you think you have a honeybee problem, the best solution is to contact a professional bee removal firm like ABC Wildlife. Because bees are so valuable to our ecological well-being, extermination should be avoided at all costs. ABC Wildlife specializes in stinging insect control and removal. Our trained and certified beekeepers have the ability to extract and relocate the colony in a safe manner while maintaining the architectural soundness of your home. Call us today at (847) 870-7175.
