Honey Bee Solutions

Appearance:

The adult worker's body is 1/2 to 5/8 inch long. Honey bees are banded with orange and brown or black and are mostly covered with pale hairs, especially on the thorax. A barbed stinger is present.

Queen honey bees are slightly larger, about 5/8 to ¾ inch long. The longer, more tapered abdomen extends well beyond the wing tips. The queen has a smooth stinger. Males or drones are robust, about 5/8 inch long, have large eyes and do not possess a stinger.

Africanized honey ("killer") bees look just like our domestic bees but are extremely aggressive when disturbed. A specialist is required to differentiate this African subspecies.

Diet:

Honey Bees feed on nectar.

Solutions:

What you can do: If bees are entering your living space from a wall, ceiling or soffit, try to locate the entry point(s) and fill or cover them from inside using duct tape or other temporary material.

In a residential situation, it may be desirable to discourage foraging bees from coming around the home. This is especially true if small children or allergic people are present. Discouragement consists of removal of, or preventing access to any sweets (e.g., beverages and sweet foods) or water which may attract them to doorways, porches, patios, decks and play areas. Nectar-bearing flowering vegetation should be located away from these same sites, as well as other areas frequented by people (like sidewalks and mailboxes). Also lawns should be kept free of white clover and flowering weeds.

Professional Solutions:

Live removal of honey bees is desirable and the preferred method when possible. If honey bees must be killed in wall or attic, a Peoria Pest Eliminators service technician will treat into the cavity containing the hive.

At some point following the treatment the dead bees, comb and honey must be removed or else, as the wax hive and dead insects decay, there will be a strong, foul odor as well as seepage into, and staining of adjacent plaster and gypsum board. Furthermore, this decay-related odor will attract other insects and mice.