Africanized Honeybees Archives - Arizona Pest Control - Pest Management Services

All posts in “Africanized Honeybees”

Block walls

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Block walls

Block Walls can harbor a variety of bugs, especially scorpions and their food. So treating the block walls inside and outside is essential to making them dead. The art od pest control is to manage the bugs so they die before they get to your home or business. So how do we treat?

Arrive at your door and ask any questions about activity?
Using our webber broom we knock down webs and look up to see anything at the roofline. Check your property for other signs.
We don’t generally use spray tanks, overkill of pest and any good bugs. We use backpacks, to target specific areas that bugs hide or harborage in. We do use spray tanks for ticks because they like to climb up weeds and bushes.
We then check the property for any ant mounds and treat each mound.
We then dust those block walls, with DE and/or Delta Dust. Some companies use a foam device to foam those areas. I’m not sure that it works any better, but we use dust every visit.
If you’re home we will check in and leave you with a service ticket or email you one. Of course we will Thank you.

So consider a service by the Leader in Phoenix Pest Management – we use technology to prevent the bugs from getting to you. 623-414-0176 or 480-831-9328

Jumping cholla cactus

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Jumping Cholla cactus

Jumping Cholla – If you live anywhere in the desert you know about these cactus. They will attack if you get close. OK they won’t attack but it seems like it. Its like they are magnetic. But a question was asked recently why don’t rodents or coyote’s ever have them attached? Or better yet why not Pack Rats? It’s called behavior modification, they learn and they learn quickly. It’s amazing cause almost every time I’m in the desert I get a few. I kneel to check a rodent station and get one in my knee or there might be bits and parts inside the bait station. Sometimes I even get them in my shoes, right through the soles and you think its a rock but surprise a needle shooting pain.

The dangers of the desert

So a word of caution, there are many things in the desert that can do you harm, rattlesnakes, Africanized Honeybees, rocks and cacti – so use extreme care. I seem to find almost all of these dangers as I’m doing my work. Stay tuned for a resent find in a rodent bait station.

I have seen Pack rat middens or dens full of this stuff, how do they do it – I have no idea. I was training a technician once and mentioned to be careful, I had no sooner turned around and he had them from toe to waist on his right leg pants. Painful and barbed, did I say ouuuuuch? But yet the animals seem to be impervious or maybe it’s just that they are smarter. You decide!

Bees need water

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Honey bees and all living creatures need water

Bees and all creatures need 3 things, water, food and shelter. It is very important for all creatures and with very few exception it is Life and Death. Some creatures can take water directly from the food they eat. Mice and termites are just a few.

So what do you do when they invade your space, adapt of course? We have tried moving a dish of water away from a pool or putting in a fountain to distract them away from the other water source. Most times the honey bees won’t sting, but why tempt fate, right? Imagine coming up from under the water and bee is on your face or head and they decide to randomly sting (rare). So we have tried the water dish and or fountain idea to motivate them away. These little bees were just going ahead with their business and unprovoked would never bother anyone. I often see bushes full of flower that almost come alive with honeybee activity – “leave them bee and they will leave you bee”.

I have a large account and they have a huge fountain and there are days when they are really active. I also know that most people are not familiar with bees like I am but just be nice to them and they will generally leave you alone. Remember one out of every mouth full of food relies on honeybees, we really need them to do their work. They are also the only insect that supplies us food. Something to really think about.

It’s bee season – are you prepared?

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Season, when are the honeybees active?

Spring Season, maybe the Summer. Honeybees here in Arizona can swarm year round. So no big surprise that the owner noticed a lot of honeybees flying in and out from his deck. It was a great idea to save some money, instead of laying concrete they built a deck with wood. The Honeybee’s also thought it was a great idea, so they decided to set up shop and build a nice fortress for their babies. It was all such a great idea until the dog got stung.

Honeybees don’t realize that they are building near or on a deck, they see a nice void and decide to make it home. I think they would rather be higher off the ground but we really don’t have predators like anteaters or honey badgers in Arizona. The only thing that they wouldn’t like is us, a little noise or commotion and it might trigger them to attack, especially if they are Africanized, more prone to agitation.

Once a month or at the very least check your home and property for signs of a pest infestation – as always Bee Prepared!

season

Swarm facts video by ProBest Pest Management

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One the of the most asked questions is about Bee Swarms, here are some fantastic facts. Bee swarms are generally not aggressive, bee careful they can become agitated. They take up honey before leaving the old colony and that tends to make them less aggressive. Most attacks occur as part of an established hive defending itself. If you leave the swarm alone, it may just move on. Don’t try to take care of it yourself, we have suits for this. My favorite quote is this ” If you mess with a swarm or honeybee colony and they become upset – you can’t put the Genie back in the bottle”. They can stay mad for up to 8+ hours and attack everyone who comes close.

Photo by PPMA

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oH_fOVbdd0w[/embedyt]

Pollinator Health Updates

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Pollinator Health – Bee Aware Be Safe.

Did you know that there are more pollinators than just honeybees? Check out this website to find out what they are. There are a number of factors that are affecting honeybees these days and the USDA, EPA and the National Pest Management Association and others are working towards a plan to continue to save the bees.

I located a honeybee colony in my house and had it removed, now what?

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Most times if you located it early enough you are probably alright but if its been there for a long time you may have some issues.

Normally I ask questions and hope for the best but from time to time you never know what might happen. I’ve seen times when not only was there a distinct smell, but there was Wax Moths everywhere. I don’t know how they do it but they got into the house and were flying and flirting around in every room. So here are my tips:

Monthly checks of your home during Honeybee season – Africanized Honeybees swarm in Arizona as soon as it becomes warm and wills swarm right up to our mild winters.
If you see bees going in and out it is time to call a Pest Management Professional.
Keep an eye after the bees have been removed for any signs of leakage. The beeswax and honey will melt and secondary pests will come by for something to eat.
Leakage may be inside or outside, pay attention to smells and spotting on walls or ceilings.
Honey won’t mold but dead bees might so again pay attention to the smells.

Spring is here, the Bees say so!

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Did you know Africanized Honeybees swarm 30 more often than the European Honeybees? Spring has sprung and we are getting calls, here are a few tips:

Don’t Panic when they decide to swarm on a tree, bush or fence. Its nature way of reproduction.
Leave them alone, they will probably move on.
When they swarm they take in as much honey as they can, this tends to make them a little more docile. They are not defending a hive yet, but that doesn’;t mean that they won’t sting. Use caution and Bee Safe.

Bugs fear him and homeowner’s (OK maybe like him)

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I saw these huge fly swatters the other day at a store and couldn’t help buying one, if your problem requires the use of something this BIG then you need to amke one call. That call would be to ProBest Pest Management 480-831-9328 or 623-414-0176.

There are some things you can do on your own, but take caution on termites, bed bugs and Africanized Honeybees.

New data suggest that insect sting allergy is increasing.

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So you’ve been lucky, never been attacked or stung by an insect. Is it luck or are you one of those who may die if stung and you just don’t know it yet? “The rise of deadly insect sing allergies: Is there a cure?” published by Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology article by Medical press.

“Insect sting allergy is increasing, affecting five percent of the population. But what much of the population may not understand is that there is something that can be done about it.”

I’m extremely fortunate that I’m not allergic, especially since I’m in the biz? So here are a few tips:

Just because you see a honeybee doesn’t mean its going to attack. They are out looking for food and probably could care less about you. Unless, unless yes I said that twice you encounter an Africanized Honeybee colony?
Wear light colored clothes while hiking, honeybees are less likely to become aggressive.
Always wear shoes outside, don’t set them by the backdoor. Scorpions and Black widow spiders may make it their new home.
If you are stung, watch the symptoms – if you feel weird in any way call 911 right away.
You can also check in with Poison Control 1-800-222-1222, this is also a number that should be taught to children
Arizona has some special creepy little things like rattlesnakes, Gila monsters, Africanized Honeybees, tarantulas (usually harmless unless you provoke them), spiders and my favorite Assassin Bug.

Warning signs someone’s been stung by a scorpion MyFox News video and story.

stinger of bark scorpion magnified