Bees populate Tucson and the surrounding Arizona desert areas year-round, but it’s important to note that their peak time is spring and early summer. When we talk bees at Conquistador Pest and Termite, we are specifically talking about Africanized Honeybees. First, let’s cover a little about bees, their biology, and why you may need bee control services in Tucson.
Bee Swarms
An Africanized Bee colony will leave the hive in search of a new nest site when the queen dies, when a hive reaches a certain maturity point, or for no reason at all. We call this a swarm. A swarm may contain from 1,500 to 30,000 bees including, workers, drones, and a queen. This is usually visible as a cloud of bees flying 5-15 feet off the ground, sounding almost like a miniature train. These swarms are typically not aggressive at this time (unless people start to swat at them).
When the swarm lands, they gather into a cluster. We usually encounter this in a tree, the eaves of a house, or even just on a wall. Again, please note, they are usually docile at this time. They will wait at this spot while scouts search the surrounding areas for a suitable environment to establish a new nest.
Once a scout finds an area of interest, it will return to the hive to dance. Yes, dance! The scout does a dance around the colony to attract more scouts, communicating that she’s found a great new spot to check out. If found to be suitable, worker bees will set up a nest and once this nest is established, the colony will escort the queen into the hive. Soon egg laying, brood and honey production starts. Once this starts to happen, Africanized bees become much more defensive of the site.
If you notice a swarm of bees that hangs around (literally!) for more than two or three days, you will need to call a Tucson bee removal expert like Conquistador Pest & Termite to see if you need bee removal services.
When are Bees Aggressive?
While bees can be intimidating, they also help your garden flourish and they pollinate crops all over the world. There can be concerns especially if you are allergic to bee stings. But otherwise, it’s best to leave the bees alone.
Dangers of Not Removing the Hive and Honey
Many of our bee removal customers also need bee removal repairs.
When a bee colony settles into the walls of a home, we see damage from the honey, bees wax, and structural damage due to the mere weight of the honeycomb.
Honey and Wax
Honey and wax can cause significant damage to your home. When the swarm leaves, the abandoned honeycomb can melt and seep into your walls especially with our hot Tucson summers. You may notice an odor or an unexplained stain on the wall. A professional bee removal company will be able to help you identify the presence of the beehive and find its exact location.
Structural Damage
The process of building their nests can cause a great deal of damage in itself. The bees are in and out every day as they build their nest and forage for nectar and pollen. Often, they damage your structure by removing wood, insulation or other building materials to make room for their nest. This kind of structural damage can cause weakness in your walls and create ideal conditions for leaks, mold and other unwanted damage.
Tucson Bee Removal
Do not try to remove a colony yourself! Call the experts. Removing bees can be difficult and dangerous, especially when dealing with hybrid or Africanized honey bees. Inexperienced or improper treatment can result in injuries to not only the person attempting to treat the bees but also to others in the surrounding area. Conquistador Pest Control knows effective methods for bee control, how to get rid of bees, and preventing bees from building future nests in the same location. Contact Conquistador Pest to help you with bees and other Tucson pest control services.
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