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Facts About Bees

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There are over 20,000 bee species around the world, and these small, winged insects are known for their capacity to produce honey. They are usually black or brown with yellow, red or blue stripes, and they can range in size from 1/16 of an inch to 1.5 inches, depending on the species.

Bee infestations

Bee infestations can start for various reasons, but they become a problem when bees find a place to nest inside the walls of the home, or somewhere on your property. They will usually choose areas that are dark and protected, which means that they are drawn to chimneys, wall voids, and hollow tree trunks. Things get even worse, when you have a nest in a wall void, and the bees start to fly inside the home.

Bee infestations can be very serious. Bees are defensive of their hives, and they will swarm people, stinging them multiple times, if they get too close to the colony. On top of that, honey will ferment over time, which can draw in other insects, damage support structures, and stain the surrounding area.

Bee behavior

Bees are social insects. They live in large colonies that revolve around a single queen. The colony is divided in castes – you have the queen bee, the infertile female workers, and the male drones. A queen will lay eggs her entire life, which can last for up to five years. The male drones exist solely to mate with the queen, and they die shortly after. The female worker bees are tasked with the maintenance of the hive, and they have a lifespan of about six weeks.

One of the most important tasks for a worker bee is pollination. Bees have a fuzzy body, with bristled-hind legs, which allows them to collect pollen. During this process of collecting pollen from flower to flower, the bees drop pollen by accident, thus leading to the cross-pollination of plants.  Pollen contains protein and other nutrients, and it is a main source of food for both the larva and the adult members of a colony.

Dealing with bee infestations

While bees are essential to the ecosystem, they can be considered pests when they build a nest on our properties. In these situations, you can call over a pest control professional and have the nest removed. Contact us today if you have a bee infestation and we will help you get it under control.

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