All posts in “bee”

Fountains and bees

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Water Fountains and bees

Anytime we think we are safe in the water, wait that was the Shark headline. Honeybees need water just like us and they will take it from anywhere they can find it. Water fountains aren’t the perfect place and neither are swimming pools. Swimming pools can be a sting of a place if you surface and the bee tags along she may decide to sting you and ouch.

This circumstance is difficult to adjust, the bees don’t want to move and generally speaking they won’t. I have tried placing a water dish with stones so they can get a drink, gradually moving it away from the other source.

 

fountains     fountains

Fantastic tree in Phoenix, Arizona

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tree

tree

I think this is a Orchid Tree, Bauhinia variegate. The honeybees were going crazy, it sounded like a whirling buzzing noise and the tree was covered with bees pollinating.

When the bees are out gathering nectar and pollen generally speaking they will not attack, if you bother them or swat at them they may defend and sting you but they are not in hive defense mode. A lot of people panic when they see a few bees on a tree or bush, the honeybees are just there to gather the fruit of their labor. The same goes with water areas, this could also be your pool or water fountain. Swarms occur and should be left alone, they will probably move on. Let them be and more than likely they will leave you be. We as humans can come into contact with bees daily so just take care and if you notice them coming and going from your home – just check them out and see exactly where they are coming from.

Bee safe

Bee attack in Tucson

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A landscaper lost his life when he was attacked by a honeybee’s. “Swarm of thousands of bees kills man, injures another”  Just for the record let me adjust that heading – it wasn’t a swarm of honeybees – it was a colony or hive within the home that was agitated and attacked. Technically the dictionary classifies a swarm as “a large number of animate or inanimate things massed together and usually in motion”. Typcially I consider a swarm a result of the hive dividing and moving on, but hey its just words.

The main portion of this story and the tragic part is the death and injury of the people. I think is is really important to check your property monthly to determine the possibility of infestation of rodents, bees and or termites.

How to conduct that examination of your home?

  1. Check for open holes, either where pipes enter or weep holes which help with your home ventilation. This home-sealing might help with keeping the a/c or heat inside.
  2. Check high and low, for bees or rodents evidence. This could be rub marks, branches or leaves or more obvious things coming and going.
  3. Trees and bushes shouldn’t touch the home, this provides highways for ants and rodents.
  4. Doors should have doorsweeps or thresholds in place.
  5. Home-seals are an excellent way to keep things out.

 

Honey bee swarms

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Here are a few tips on honeybee swarms:

  1. Generally speaking  a swarm such as the one above will move on in time, usually 24 hours.
  2. When a swarm happens the bees take in honey and are therefore less aggressive, don’t provoke them.
  3. A swarm will send scouts out to look for an new home.
  4. If they land on a tree, bush or fence give them some time. If they land on your house it is better to take care of it ASAP.
  5. By just looking at them it is impossible to determine if they are Africanized.
  6. Once they establish a hive or colony they will defend with their lives.

Carpenter bees, don’t know wood from foam?

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Bugs in general don’t have any idea whether it is wood or foam, they probably just think it might be a good place to call home. I’ve seen termites use foam as an avenue into a structure and I’ve seen carpenter ants tear up the foam used as insulation. So it didn’t really surprise me when I noticed the damage from carpenter bees. It is extremely difficult to stop them from doing damage to foam, with wood you can paint it and frequently that deters them but not so with these bees and foam.

Honeybee’s having a rough time, EPA may have to investigate

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Federal Bill Suspending Neonicotinoid Use Forthcoming

 An Oregon Congressman last week announced plans to introduce federal legislation suspending certain uses of neonicotinoid pesticides until the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reviews these chemicals and makes a new determination about their proper application and safe use. The measure specifically suspends the use of neonicotinoids for foliar treatments on bee attractive plants, soil applications and seed treatments within 180 days.

Congressman Earl Blumenaer’s Save America’s Pollinators Act was precipitated by a massive bee kill last month in suburban Portland that state investigators determined was caused by an application of a neonicotinoid pesticide application. here to read Congressman Blumenaer’s press release announcing the Congressman’s intention to drop the bill.

Statementby National Pest Management Association (NPMA) (I wanted to personally share this message as a former beekeeper I’m greatly concerned about these deaths).
Most bees, including bumblebees, are beneficial insects. As such, our industry is firmly committed to the protection of bee health and the vital role bees play in pollinating flowers and crops, thereby strengthening our food supply. The death of tens of thousands of bees earlier this month is undoubtedly an important loss. An investigation is currently underway and although we cannot speculate on the pesticide application process in question, the event stresses the necessity for label instructions to be strictly followed at all times. Pesticide labels are mandates, not recommendations, set forth by the Environmental Protection Agency after years of rigorous testing.

To Bee or not to Bee? What was the question? Bee Control

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To Bee or not to Bee? What was the question?

                                  

Usually after arriving at a home we discuss with the homeowner just how long the bees have been there. Sometimes they have no idea and sometimes they indicate just a recent event. The important issue is how long because if the hive is large the issue grows and can become a huge issue. OK small hive not a real problem, not much honey and not much by way of honeycomb = little to no bugs. But here is where the issue becomes a problem, big hive = lots of honey and honeycomb which equals a huge bug problem sometimes.

I hate to damage a wall or home just to get to the honeycomb, but sometimes it is just plain and simply something you must do! Today was this event, the homeowner noticed a lot of flying moth type critters and I quickly surmised that they were wax moths  after she explained that we were just there a month or so ago. The Wax Moth is a very destructive insect pest in the beehive. The adult moth is a heavy bodied small moth about ½” to ¾” long, wings vary in color from grayish to brown and the underside is light gray. Often after a colony is killed the wax moths will invade and lay eggs and the larva will then start to demolish the honeycomb. This also happens within a bee hive if it succumbs to something that could weaken the colony.

So the question is – Do you have to open the wall or not? Sometimes and sometime not!

My point is that it isn’t always required to remove the old honeycomb depending on the age and numbers of bees involved. Sometimes it is also impossible to get to the left over colony and you may have to put up with the consequences.

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