honeybees Archives - Page 5 of 6 - Arizona Pest Control - Pest Management Services

All posts in “honeybees”

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

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.

Where will bees take up residence?

1 Comment

We all need to bee aware in Arizona and pretty much all of the South U.S. This is an example of why, this picture is a water meter box and if you look close you will see honeybees going in and out of the entrance . What would happen if children were playing and ran across the lid, or fell on the meter box?

What would happen if you decided to check your water meter box and lifted the lid without seeing the bees, catastrophe well maybe? So please see the checklist below and use caution in and around your home!

Check your home monthly especially in the Spring and Fall, check eaves and roof-line.
Check your property, sheds and storage.
Keep an eye out for meter boxes or electrical boxes.
If a swarm enters your property and alights on a tree branch, wait – they may move. If they go to and from your home, then it is time to call.
Remember bees don’t know a dog house from a tree.
Remember if you decide to treat, you can’t call the bees back once they are excited and upset.

How do those honeybees get into your home?

Comments Off

How do those honeybees get into your home?

As you can see any crack or crevice that they can squeeze into, as long as there is room inside to build a honeycomb to raise future bees. The bees have also decided that they only work on Sunday’s, cause that is the only day I get the calls.

The one thing I have noticed is that the new colonies are smaller probably indicating Africanized Honeybee’s. The weird factor in this is that the last 3 swarms or colonies have not been very aggressive probably due to just moving into their new digs.

How can you remove honeycomb from a structure?

Comments Off

How can you remove honeycomb from a structure?

Honeybees can take up residence in any home if there is space available and sometimes they don’t make it easy to get to them.We don’t always remove the honeycomb, it is not always necessary. Maybe the bees haven’t been there very long or it is just impossible to get to as the case above is. depending on the location you may have to cut stucco, or come in from the inside out and this all involves dismantling and construction. All of this is time consuming and somewhat dangerous unless you know what you are doing.

Sometimes it is necessary to call in someone with more construction ability than I have. If it involves cutting stucco or getting into a brick structure then I think you need a professional that understands construction and building plans.

The bees are coming! How do I know?

Comments Off

The bees are coming! How do I know?

The weather has warmed up and we had a great deal of rain, that is going to equal a lot of bug. With the temperatures today in the high 80’s you can bet the Africanized Honeybee’s who swarm more often anyway are all ready making brood to divide the colony.

The hive mind decides on the event and all of a sudden the colony is at it’s maximun and they swarm. One-half or so of the colony depart in a frenzy, they may alight on a branch and then send scouts out to find a new home. Once located the Queen will check it out and if she is happy they will move into their new home.

Here are a few facts about the swarm:

The bees will have taken on additional honey, typically they are more docile when full. But they might still sting, just less likely to become agitated unless they are defending their home. Swarm tend to be more docile!
The old Queen moves with the new swarm, she is fertile and more likely to succeed in a new build. The honeycomb is difficult work, so the stress on the entire colony is BIG.
The new Queen probably not yet fertile, she will take a mating flight after the swarm leaves. It is possible for her to become a free lunch for a bird or other insect, if she fails to return the old hive still has the ability to create a Queen from previous eggs.
Africanized honeybees swarm up to 10x more then European Honeybees.

How to get ready for the Spring bug season?

Comments Off

How to get ready for the Spring bug season?

The more feeder bugs could equal more scorpions or spiders on your property and eventually inside your home, pest control is important.
Check your home for cracks and crevices where bugs and rodents try to get in.
Don’t store stuff around the foundation of your home.
If you do have firewood, store it on something and away from the house.
Check your storage areas for pests.
Don’t over water things, to much water may kill plants and encourage more bug activity.

As always if you become overwhelmed don’t let it go and hope for the best. Call a Pest Management Professional who can either give you advice or give you a hand. A great site for information on seeking a Professional is http://www.pestworld.org

Things you shouldn’t ignore…

Comments Off

Things you shouldn’t ignore…

Being bitten by something at night – OK don’t panic, it might not be what your thinking but. So think before you react, ask yourself some questions – have you traveled, have you had guest over, do children frequent your home? If you check your bedroom and you find a bug please save it for the pest company or if you are able to bring it to a Pest Management Professional that would be great. You can also send a picture just don’t smoosh it. Remember it might not be a Bed Bug, on the other hand it might be so take care.
Honeybees flying in and out of your home, the longer they stay the bigger the issue becomes. More bees equals more honeycomb, wax and honey. Again this is a problem that requires a Pest Management Professional.
Dirt, soil or mud tubes on the walls or coming down the ceiling of your home. Well its probably termites and the faster you make that call the less damage will occur.
Water stains on the ceiling, water problems can lead to termite problems. This is a call for the roofer!
When in doubt call ProBest 480-831-9328

Things

What happens when you get stung?

Comments Off

What happens when you get stung?

Food allergy is the leading cause of anaphylaxis; however, medications, insect stings, and latex can also cause an allergic reaction that leads to anaphylaxis.

I found this article in Pest Management Professional magazine November 2012 and they listed the source http://www.niaid.nih.gov the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

Allergies to venom of stinging insects such as honeybees, wasps, hornet, yellowjackets, scorpions and fireants
Systemic reactions in adults ranging from 3.3% to 5%
40 to 100 deaths annually from anaphylaxis

When stung call 911 or Poison Control immediatley if you are a known allergic or if you experience symptoms.

Bees, beeswax, honeycomb and prevention!

Comments Off

Did you know that Africanized Honeybees swarm up to 10x’s as often as the European Honeybees. So is there anything that can be done to protect and possible discourage honeybees from taking up residence in your building. Once you kill the bees the honey, beeswax and honeycomb often times remain and can cost untold amounts of money. So sometimes you can be proactive and help yourself tremendously.

The Cone Style Trap is a large “flower pot” style container that is made from wood pulp. The general idea here is to place these units in an area known to get swarms, the bees will scout out the swarm box and take up residence thus preventing the swarm going to a structure. ** Nothing can make the bees go to this box, they must find it. There is no guarantee that the bees will not choose your structure. Depending on the footprint of your building and property, it would be wise to add a number of these strategically located to ensure that the bees find one.

I always suggest that you contact a Pest Management Professionals for Africanized Honeybees, once aggravated its hard to go back and start over!

Successful hotel or apartment honeybee to bat experts.

Comments Off

Successful hotel or apartment honeybee to bat experts.

Many companies are excellent at doing pest control but may not have the ability or knowledge to accomplish certain out of the range pest control. Case in point:

Large 8 story hotel had bats – ProBest Pest Management – handled and solved the problem. Case closed…
Africanized honeybees between 3rd and 4th floor of another large hotel – eliminated bees and caulked/sealed the openings. Case closed…
2 story building – Africanized honeybees. Treated and issue completed. Case closed…
Large hotel/restaurant bats in attic – night job, exclude bats and clean up bat guano. 19 bags of guano, sealed entrances – no entry for bats. Case closed…

ProBest Pest Management is often referred by the Arizona Extension Office and the Arizona Game and Fish Department, we are knowledgeable and experienced. If your pest control professional is unsure or just can’t handle the job – “Call a Pro… Call the Best. ProBest!