BEES

Bees typically build their hives (nests) in low areas, in the ground or amid debris. Getting rid of bees that have made their nests in your home or business reduces your changes of getting stung, which for some people can cause mild to severe allergic reactions. 

There are many types of bees so knowing the type of bee you are dealing with is important when determining how best to get rid of a bee infestation. Often bees are mistaken for wasps and hornets. The most common type of bees here in Ontario are the bumble bee, carpenter bee and honey bee.

When it come to handling bees, especially honey bees, seeking professional pest control help is advised.

Bumble bees are round-bodied with black and yellow colouring and a furry or fuzzy appearance. They have a stinger and will sting when they are agitated. Bumble bees typically nest in low areas, in the ground or in debris.

Carpenter bees look similar to bumble bees, with black and yellow round bodies, except they have smooth bodies. They drill 1/2" to 5/8" holes in untreated wood to nest in, hence their name. Female carpenter bees are more aggressive than males and will sting if agitated. Male carpenter bees will simply buzz around the source of annoyance or disturbance. 

Honey Bees are distinguished from other bee species by their production and storage of honey in wax combs and the construction of perennial wax colonies, where they nest.

Honey bees have a golden brown and black body, with pale orange or yellow rings on its abdomen and translucent wings. Their head, antennae and  four legs are almost black. Their thorax and abdomen are covered in fine hair. Honey bees have pollen baskets, which are made of specialized hairs, and are attached to the outer surface of the tibiae of the hind legs. The body length of honeybees varies by the type of honey bee. Worker bees are 9.5-15.8 mm, male drones are 15.8 mm and queens are the largest, around 19.5 mm long.

A colony of honeybees consists of a single queen, several thousand worker bees, and at certain times of the year, a few hundred drones. A single colony can house 80,000+ honey bees. Today, the majority of honey bee colonies are in man-made commercial hives. Bee swarms that escape usually nest in hallow or rotting trees.

The survival of the honey bee is crucial to our world's pollination process. They are the largest contributor to the pollination of earth's plants. Honey bee colonies are dying or disappearing in vast numbers, posing potentially devastating effects on agriculture and food supplies. Many believe that the increasing use of chemical pesticides and herbicides, which honeybees ingest during their daily nectar collection, are largely at fault. Others believe the cause is from genetic crop modification, which may generate pollen with compromised nutritional value.

We offer honey bee extraction services as part of our dedication to preserve the struggling honey bee population. Call us to learn more.