How do you know if you have a bee infestation on your property?
You can see a couple of bees on a bush in your yard without it being a full-blown infestation. An infestation, by definition, is a considerable number of insects gathering around or in one place.
Some key aspects that differentiate an infestation vs. some pollinators are:
- A more significant than a specific number of bees – If you see handfuls or dozens of bees, whereas before, you only occasionally saw one to two, you are likely dealing with a swarm that has established a hive nearby. Queen bees can lay up to 2,000 eggs daily, meaning a few bees can turn into hundreds or thousands within days or weeks!
- The hive itself – A hive will indicate that a colony of honeybees is nearby and has set up a home for itself. Worker bees will set up a place for a queen bee to be able to live and lay eggs that will become more bees. It usually takes bees a month or more to create an entire hive, so they have had plenty of time to set up a whole swarm of them once you see one!
- Dark patches on the walls – Dark spots will appear once there is an established hive. This happens once they create enough honey, and that honey begins to seep from the honeycomb and into your walls. You don’t need a carpenter to tell you that moisture in the walls of your home is not good!
What do you do next?
If you see any of the signs mentioned above that you have a bee infestation, you should schedule your local pest control technicians to come and evaluate the extent of the hive. Our experienced and specialized technicians at Horn Pest Management will come and provide a free estimate of your options.
When handling a bee infestation, there are two primary choices: removal or extermination. No one wants to kill honeybees, but an important fact is that all honeybees are also Africanized and can be very dangerous. Swarms kill several people every year in Arizona. The longer a hive is established, the more aggressive and dangerous they become.