Dealing with a single bee is actually quite an easy job, but getting rid of a swarm of bees can be very complicated and dangerous. Therefore, it's a good idea to hire the services of a professional to handle this problem. Before that, you can look for clues about the appearance of the bees and their hives to help identify the species of bee that is plaguing your home. With this information or clues, you can anticipate what needs to be done to eradicate the swarm of bees. You can also compare the costs involved when seeking professional help. After that, take preventative steps to reduce the chances of a bee problem like this happening again.
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Part 1 of 3: Identifying Bee Species
Step 1. Make sure what you are dealing with is a species of bee
Whenever you feel that you are encountering a bee, take a good look at the animal before attempting to take any steps. Make sure that the animal is a bee, not a wasp or wasp. There are several aspects that you can look at to see the differences between these animals:
- Fur: Bees are covered with hair all over their bodies. Meanwhile, wasps and wasps have very little hair on their bodies. To find out, you need to examine his body very closely.
- Source of food: Bees fulfill their nutritional needs from flower nectar. Meanwhile, wasps and wasps prey on other insects and/or feed on food debris.
- Thickness of body shape: The body of the bee tends to bulge in the middle. Meanwhile, wasps and wasps have a slimmer, elongated hip.
Step 2. Take a photo to see what kind of bee you see
There are several different types of bees, and each type requires different approaches when it comes to getting rid of them. Try taking photos of the bees you find and showing them to a professional exterminator or beekeeper. You can also compare the appearance of the bee photographed with online sources such as https://www.adkinsbeeremoval.com/bee-id-chart.php. If you live in the United States, you may find honey bees, wasp beetles, carpenter bees, or perhaps Africanized honeybees.
Step 3. Recognize the difference between wasp beetles and wood bees
The two looked similar when first seen. If you compare photos on the internet and feel that what you see is a wasp or wood bee, look for more in-depth information or clues to make sure that the bee you are photographing is one of the two types of bees. There are several aspects that you can pay attention to to distinguish the two:
- Visual clues: More wood has a black dot on the top of its thorax (where the wings and legs develop). In addition, the wood bee has less hair on its body than the wasp beetle.
- Social form with their herds: Wood bees usually live alone, while wasp beetles tend to live in swarms.
Step 4. Look at the hive to identify the bee species present if necessary
If you can't take a photo of the bee present (or the photo isn't clear), don't worry. Pay attention to the appearance of the nest. Use the information about the hive to identify the bee species in your area.
- Honey bee nests are often found in empty spaces, such as in tree trunks, logs, and wooden fence posts. Usually honey bees do not make their nests in parts or structures of the house. However, sometimes nests can be found in roofs, attics, and holes in walls if bees can access them from outside.
- Wasp beetles usually nest in or around the soil surface, such as in abandoned mouse nests, compost piles, or under tall outdoor structures, such as garden sheds or patios.
- Wood bees usually build on wood for and advise on it. Watch for bee activity around small holes, such as holes in eaves, porches, and outdoor wood ornaments.
Step 5. Don't worry if you can't identify the species of bee you've found
If you still can't figure out what type of bee there is, don't push yourself. By knowing the type, you can indeed anticipate the effort required to eradicate it (including comparing the cost of services for each company with the available funds). However, to start the extermination process you don't have to first identify the bee species. Simply contact a pest control company (especially one that focuses on bee control) and schedule an inspection so they can identify more species that are disturbing your home.
Part 2 of 3: Facing Problems
Step 1. Ask yourself if you really need to get rid of the bees
If the bees only roam outdoors, it's a good idea to leave the swarm unless someone in your family is allergic to bees. Keep in mind that bees play an important role for the environment by helping the pollination process. In addition, several species of bees (especially honey bees) have experienced population declines in recent years. Also keep in mind that:
- Although most bees have stingers, they are usually only used as a “last resort”. This means that bees will only sting if you really bother them. As long as you stay calm as the bee flies around, you won't be stung or disturbed. In fact, some species of bees (such as the male wood bee) do not have stingers.
- An exception to this may apply to Africanized honeybees. This species of bee will be aggressive (and still show aggressiveness) when disturbed.
Step 2. Be careful with the beehive in the house
If you see bees in your house (or find, for example, wood bees nesting in your wooden structures), you can try to get rid of them. At first, the remaining swarms of bees may only cause minor damage to the house. However, if left unchecked, the risks and damages that exist can increase over time.
- Wood bees will continue to enlarge their nests on wooden structures if left unchecked.
- Honey bees build hives that contain honey in them. Nests like this are usually quite heavy and can damage the surrounding area. In addition, the honey contained in it can attract the attention of other animals.
Step 3. Use a professional coat to get rid of the bees that are nesting in the house
Just killing a bee is quite easy to do. However, dealing with a swarm of bees is a longer and more complicated process. Keep in mind that if extermination is not carried out properly and thoroughly, there is a possibility that a new swarm of bees will arrive at a later date. Apart from that, there are a few things you need to keep in mind:
- Bees will usually ignore you, unless you damage the hive. While a bee's sting is manageable, keep in mind that you may encounter tens, hundreds, or even thousands of bees when attacking or destroying the hive.
- The extermination methods used may vary depending on the type or species of bee present. Professional exterminators can use smoke, pesticides, or other extraction methods to remove the bees from the hive, as well as using a second hive to extract the honey left in the old hive.
- The process of removing or destroying the hive itself may require the help of a carpenter so that you can identify and repair any damage to the wooden structure that is used as the beehive.
Step 4. If you live in a certain country (such as the United States), contact your local government first
First, find out if the existing beehive is technically in a public area (not on private land or property). If the nest is on public land, contact the city government and report the disturbance so that the government can address it. If not, you can still contact your local government as they usually offer free hive removal or removal services, depending on the area or state you live in. In Indonesia itself, local governments do not provide these services. If there are beehives on public land, you can usually destroy or remove them right away, especially if the presence of swarms of bees is bothering you and your neighbors.
- If so, find out what free services are available, depending on where you live. The service may include bee removal and hive removal, or just extermination. In addition, the service may not include repair of structural damage to buildings.
- Most likely, you can get a free service if the annoying beehive is in a natural structure (eg a tree), not a house or man-made structure. However, it never hurts to contact the city government and find out about policies or regulations regarding bee removal services and hive removal on man-made structures on your land.
Step 5. Compare the quality and service options of each service provider before you use a free service from the local government
If the local government provides a free bee extermination service, do not immediately use the service. Keep in mind that while these services can technically be used for free, the city may not provide all the necessary services. Find out what services are offered by local governments, then contact private service providers to find out what service options they offer.
- This is important to consider, especially if the beehive is inside the building structure of the house. To access the nest, you may need to split or disassemble the structure so that the nest can be found. Meanwhile, the free services offered by the city government may not include repairs to structures that have been demolished.
- If repairs are not made (or done incorrectly), a new swarm of bees will occupy the area previously occupied by the exterminated swarm of bees. This means you can save money in the long run if you hire a private extermination service to get rid of the bees, repair the structure, and get a guarantee if the bees come back and nest in your home in the future.
Step 6. Call the beekeeper to lift or retrieve the hive before you contact the bee exterminator
If you believe the nuisance swarm is from a honeybee species, look for a beekeeper in your area. Instead of killing a swarm of bees, ask the beekeeper to remove the hive from the property if possible. Keep in mind that the number of healthy honeybees is decreasing. This is of course very unfortunate because honey bees play an important role in the process of pollinating fruit and vegetable crops.
If you can't find a beekeeper in your area, find a pest control company that focuses on bee control. They can try to lift and move the hive first and not destroy it right away
Step 7. Instead of calling a regular pest control service, try contacting a bee specialist
If swarms of bees have nested in the structure of your home (or other part of your property), hire a handyman to remove walls, floors, or ceilings so you can access the existing beehive. After disassembly, you do have to make repairs. Therefore, try to find a pest control service that specifically focuses on handling bees.
- The bee specialist will most likely be able to handle structural repairs, while the general pest control will probably only eradicate the existing bee swarm. This means you have to do the repair yourself or hire a contractor.
- The bee specialist can also provide a guarantee if at any time a swarm of bees comes and re-occupies the same area. This guarantee certainly helps you to save money in the long run.
Part 3 of 3: Preventing the Bees from Coming Back
Step 1. Remove or remove any existing nests
Make sure whichever party you hire doesn't just kill a swarm of bees, without moving or removing the hive. The existence of the hive can attract the attention of a new swarm of bees. Therefore, prevent new problems by ensuring that existing old nests are properly disposed of.
Step 2. Make sure you make the necessary repairs as soon as possible
If the exterminator needs to dismantle the structure of the house to reach the beehive and does not provide repair services afterward, you should do the repair yourself as soon as possible. Keep in mind that if a swarm of bees sees the area as a good place to nest, the bees will come and build a nest in that area. Therefore, immediately close access to the area as soon as possible.
Seal or patch any gaps, cracks, or other access holes. Keep in mind that if a swarm of bees builds a hive inside your structure, another swarm will follow the first swarm of bees. Review the area and look for entrances that the bees can use to access the area. Cover the driveway with putty, insulating foam, or other material, depending on the conditions
Step 3. Clear ideal nesting points from buildings or yards
Limit the number of places that bees can use to nest. Dispose of garbage that has piled up because piles of garbage can be an attractive place for swarms of bees to nest. In addition, there are several things to do, depending on the type or species of bee you find:
- Block access to tight basements and areas under elevated structures such as garden sheds, patios, or decks.
- Cover rat nests or other holes in the ground.
- Place the compost in a container rather than letting it pile up.
- Remove any hollow logs or tree trunks.
