Protecting Honeybees is Crucial for the Environment and Agriculture
With over 4,000 different types of bees living in the United States, their rapid decline poses a serious threat to biodiversity. As pollinators, honeybees play a critical role in growing the fruit, produce, and nuts that are essential for our survival. Approximately 35% of our agricultural production and 90% of commercially grown food crops in the United States are pollinated by bees. Simply put, without bees we would starve.
Professional Honeybee Removal
It might seem contradictory, but pest control professionals with the proper training can do quite a lot to protect honeybees! At Bug Busters, our team includes several professionals who are certified beekeepers. Specialized training ensures that our team members relocate hives in a way that prioritizes the health of the colony and the safety of our customers. Our team is also skilled in removing other stinging insects like wasps, yellow jackets, and hornets safely and effectively.
Pesticides. Exposure to pesticides and herbicides can either kill or drastically weaken a colony.
Climate change. Variation in vegetation, along with rising temperatures, are destroying habitats for many species of bees. The inability to forage has severely impacted bee populations.
Lack of biodiversity. To remain healthy and thrive, bee colonies need a variety of plants to pollinate and/or feed from.
Tips to help protect honeybees
Plant a bee friendly garden growing native flowers that provide nectar and pollen throughout the year.
Provide a shallow bowl of water with rocks in the bottom for bees to drink from.
If you are planning to add trees to your yard, consider selecting maples, red buds or black cherry trees as they provide both food and nesting material for bees.
A. Honeybees can be identified by their heart-shaped head, hairy eyes and barrel-shaped abdomen. Honeybees are typically half an inch long, and they vary in color, from honey brown or black with alternating pale and dark stripes on the abdomen. They also have a distinct pocket on the hind legs called a corbicula for storing pollen.
A. Here are some tips to keep in mind if you encounter a swarm of bees:
Do not panic. While it is understandable to be startled by a swarm, try to remember that honeybees have no intention of hurting you unless they feel threatened.
Do not disturb. For the most part, honeybees don’t need or want anything from you. If a hive has been moved or unhomed, they will take breaks on any available surface they can find. If a swarm doesn’t move on, that’s the time to call a professional pest control company like Bug Busters for help.
Do not spray. Refrain from spraying bees with any type of liquid, including water, pesticides, or household products. Even though it may seem like a quick fix, the surviving bees can transfer the chemicals to the crops they pollinate and the honey they produce.
A. While each removal is unique, there are some common elements.
Assess. Removal begins by assessing the situation. If necessary, your beekeeper will use an infrared camera.
Exterior removal. If the hive is located on the exterior of the home, outdoor structure, or a tree, your beekeeper will use a honeybee vacuum that is completely safe for them. Once the bees have been removed, they will be transported to a new hive, where they can live safely.
Interior removal. If the hive is located inside a wall, your beekeeper will need to cut into the wall for removal. Once the bees have been safely removed, the beekeeper will remove the honey and comb, before cleaning, repairing the area, and resealing.
A. Unfortunately, no. There are too many factors involved when removing bees, honey and comb from a home making it impossible to guarantee the honey is safe for consumption. The honey and comb isn’t wasted though – it is reintroduced to the relocated colony of bees.
A. It is absolutely vital to inform your beekeeper if you sprayed the bees with anything, as it will affect how we use the comb and honey after removal. If the bees are sick, we cannot introduce them to a healthy colony because it could cause a multiple colony collapse.
A. To become certified, beekeepers must complete intensive training and pass a certification test. Certified keepers vow to protect honeybees, which includes educating the public on why removals should be done by professionals. In addition to the danger to a colony, a removal not done by a professional could cause structural damage, as well as decay from the comb and honey not being removed correctly. More importantly, if not cleaned a sealed correctly, there’s 90% chance that bees could return due to the pheromone trail they leave after exiting the colony.
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Mike IS wonderful. He will come out multiple times in the same week if needed. My daughter got married last may, and we had the rehearsal dinner (for 50) at our house. Two weeks before the dinner, ants showed up in the kitchen. Mike kept coming out till they were all gone. He was a lifesaver.
They always let me know when they were coming, always professional. If I ever seen a bug in house they came immediately and resprayed. One happened once in three years. Always polite, punctual and professional. Wouldn’t have any other bug company! I also love the fact I have the same person every time come out. So me or wife know them by name and it’s great all the way around.
The agent was very professional, knowledgeable, and reliable. I would definitely use this company’s service again.
