BUMBLE BEE CONTROL
Gentle and friendly, a bumble bee is a welcome visitor gardens. Nonetheless, problems may arise when these insects build a nest within or adjacent to a residence or commercial building.
It is not common for bumble bees to nest in structures, but it can happen. Moreover, these insects sometimes are confused with carpenter bees, which cause damage to buildings. When property owners are unsure if they are dealing with bumble bees, carpenter bees, wasps or something else, it is always sensible to call a pest management company. The professionals who work at these businesses are experts when it comes to identifying the various insect species.
Proper identification is critical. This is because control methods for these species vary widely. Wasps are aggressive and capable of stinging multiple times. Thus, exterminators do everything possible to eliminate these infestations. The same can be said for carpenter bees. If they are left alone, they can cause significant property damage.
By contrast, bumble bees are quite different. This is a highly beneficial and benevolent species. Although they can sting people, they are unlikely to do so. Moreover, bumble bees are energetic pollinators, making them welcome guests in gardens and farm fields.
This means that pest management professionals do everything they can to preserve bumble bees. If members of this species are nesting within or too close to a building, then it is possible to remove them to a safer location. Typically, the pest control company will recommend contacting a local beekeeper to ensure the safe relocation of the bumble bees.
WHAT DO
BUMBLE BEES
LOOK LIKE?
It is critical for bumble bees to be properly identified so that they are not unnecessarily harmed. Unfortunately, it is fairly common for people to incorrectly identify bumble bees as a less beneficial species.
Most bumble bees are black with yellow stripes. In some species, more common colors are orange and red. Their bodies are covered with fuzzy hair, including the abdomen. The adults that may be seen out foraging may be anywhere from one quarter of an inch to one inch long. Queens are slightly larger, with the smallest specimens being about three-quarters of an inch to just over one inch long.
On their rear legs, bumble bees have a relatively large structure that is called a pollen basket. Foraging workers use this basket to carry the food that they find while away from the nest.
It is possible to distinguish females from males. Females have a stinger and an abdomen that comes to a point. Males lack a stinger and have a rounder abdomen.
WHERE DO
BUMBLE BEES
LIVE?
Fertile queens that survived the winter emerge in the spring and begin building a new nest, or hive. Bumble bees prefer places that are protected, hidden and dry for nesting. Cavities below ground or at the ground's surface can be ideal locations. Hives also may be found in the abandoned tunnels of small animals, beneath piles of wood or yard debris, compost piles, abandoned birds' nests and the voids in man-made structures.
Once the site is chosen, the queen collects dry grasses and other plant material to create an insulation layer. She then builds a cell out of wax. This is where she will lay her first batch of eggs. The workers that hatch from these eggs will begin collecting food and continue with building the nest. It also is their job to care for the additional young that are produced by the queen.
When compared to honeybee nests, bumble bee nests may look disorganized and less structured. They are smaller as well, with most bumble bee hives having only between 50 and 400 members. These nests are abandoned at the end of each year.
WHAT DO
BUMBLE
BEES EAT?
Members of this species frequently are found hovering around flowering plants and trees. This is because they eat the pollen and nectar that are produced by flowers. Pollen contains essential protein while the nectar has the sugar that bumble bees need for energy.
Bumble bees produce honey by chewing pollen and mixing it with saliva. The developing young and the queen are fed with the honey.
DAMAGE CAUSED BY
BUMBLE
BEES
While carpenter bees can cause serious property damage, this is not really the case for bumble bees. Nonetheless, problems may arise if the bumble bees place their hive somewhere within a man-made structure. At the end of season, the nest is abandoned. Because it is no longer being maintained, it begins to rot. This process can be responsible for mold and mildew concerns within the building.
ARE
BUMBLE
BEES AGGRESSIVE?
Bumble bees definitely are not classified as an aggressive species, especially when compared with wasps and hornets. Only the females have a stinger, but these are only used on people when she feels threatened. Although honeybees can only sting once, bumble bees are like wasps in that they can sting multiple times.
DO
BUMBLE
BEES CARRY DISEASE?
Although honeybees and bumble bees may spread certain viruses to each other, they do not carry illnesses that they transmit to people.
An individual who is stung by a bumble bee is injected with venom. This venom can cause a local reaction in most sting victims. This involves itching, redness and painful swelling right around the site of the sting. Occasionally, the swelling will become more pronounced, including on portions of the victim's body where the skin is looser, like the eyelids. These reactions tend to fade fast, lasting a maximum of a couple of days in rare cases.
Some sting victims are allergic to the venom and will have a large local reaction. An entire limb may be affected by the sting, and this can lead to a generalized allergic reaction that is known as anaphylaxis. This involves other body parts in addition to the portion that was stung. Itching, rash, swelling of the neck and face all may combine with dizziness, diarrhea, vomiting and cold shakes.
HOW TO DETECT
BUMBLE
BEES
Signs of a bumble bee presence include:
• Several bumble bees foraging for nectar and pollen on a regular basis
• Bumble bees coming and going through a nest entrance
HOW TO PREVENT
BUMBLE
BEES
Bumble bees are less likely to nest where::
• The exterior of the building is sealed up against pests
• Few food sources are nearby
• Water is not available
• Abandoned animal burrows are filled in or otherwise eliminated
• No piles of wood or yard debris are found
HOW TO TREAT FOR
BUMBLE
BEES
Newtown Termite & Pest Control understands how vital bumble bees and honey bees are to the local ecosystem. As such, we recommend contacting a local bee keeper for the safe removal of bumble bees and honey bees from area homes and businesses.
