Honey Bees
Honey Bee
Honey bees can become a problem when any one of several things happens. Most of the time though, the average spring time swarm of honey bees is usually not a major problem. Though it can be scary when you see them land at your home. In the DFW area, most bees will exhibit this (swarm) activity during the spring and early summer months of May to June. If left alone, they will usually move on in a couple of days when suitable housing is found. Stay clear of such swarms and watch to make sure they don’t decide to create a nest on the tree or structure where you find them. A resting swarm will either move on or start a nest so if you see one, watch it carefully to see what it does.
Bee Swarm
Active nests out in the woods are usually best left alone and rarely present any immediate threat to people or animals. However, nests which form under eaves, in wall voids and basically anywhere people live can be trouble. Besides presenting an immediate threat in the form of getting stung, allowing such nesting can only lead to further problems. Honey stored away deep in wall voids can only leak and turn bad over time and during the process lead to structural problems. When such nests are identified, it is best to have them removed by a bee keeper. Do not allow them to reside in or on your structure. Bee nests will both degrade the building as well as pose a real hazard to people and pets. In short, bee nests in or on homes is not acceptable.
Lastly, the remains of a nest that has mostly been removed or destroyed can present other types of problems. The honey left behind, as well as the lingering scent trails from the bees which were once active, will almost always attract other pests. These pests could turn out to be ants, beetles, other bees or some kind of honey eating animal like skunks or raccoon. Many times these pests will become active in homes where a bee nest was once present. Additionally, honey will rot as it ages. Spoiled honey smells bad and the odor will eventually find its way into living areas. If the bad smell doesn’t prompt a thorough cleanup, the damage of it as it leaks through wall and ceilings most certainly will. Aging honey combs will decompose and as they break down, the rancid honey will ooze through walls. Dark spots on walls and ceilings are a sure sign of rotting honey and most nests hold enough honey to cause this type of damage following bee removal.
Bees are an essential part of our ecosystem and at Castle we do our best to protect these helpful guys. Visit our Services page for more information on our bee removal service.
Think you have bees? Contact us today to set up a FREE assessment or to schedule an appointment.
