BEES

Bees 

We’ve recently seen an increase in inquiries about bee removal and how to go about it. As bees and their contributions to the ecosystem become more widely covered in the the media, the british public want to remove bees without harming them. And quite rightly so!
What Kinds of Bees Do We Have in United Kingdom?

Below is handy identification sheet so you can identify the type of bee you have.

In the United Kingdom the white tailed bumble bee and the honey bee is the most common bee types we are called out for along with wasps which make up the majority of our call outs. 

Furthermore, the United Kingdom is home to a large number of solitary native bees. However, because of their solitary nature, they do not require control.

As a result, when a pest controller is called to remove bees, it is almost always either wasps, white tailed bumble bees or honey bees. These sting and are not solitary, so they can be a problem if they choose to live somewhere where they could endanger humans.

Why are bees so important to the environment?

Bees are actually necessary for the UK’s ecosystem. Our native bees, of course, pollinate plants and crops, but there are also other pollinators.

Bees also compete with many of our species that use nesting hollows, such as nesting birds. So you can see where the debate begins!

However, both pest controllers and the general public agree that it is preferable to relocate bees rather than kill them. And, while opinions are still divided, we offer our clients the option of no-kill bee removal. In fact it is our most frequently asked question about bees from clients is whether it is possible to remove them quickly and efficiently without killing them.

Having said that, public opinion remains divided. Regardless of your position, in our opinion it is critical to provide our customers with the option of no-kill bee removal.

What Are Your Bee Removal Options?

If the bees are swarming outside a building (in a garden, for example), the process is simple. It shouldn’t be too difficult if the hive isn’t surrounded by a wall. Working with an apiarist is the simplest option in these cases. They can easily remove the swarm without causing any harm to the bees. These bees are then typically placed in a bee box and used to establish a beehive on the beekeeper’s own property in the future.

If the bees are in a wall cavity, the removal process becomes much more difficult. Getting the bees out of the wall cavity without harming them is extremely difficult and usually requires cutting out the entire inside wall and removing the herd. As you might expect, this can be costly and inconvenient. The other option is to install a trap out system on the exterior of the house, which is effective but slow.

One of the primary reasons a pest controller will work alongside an bee keeper is that they have the necessary protective equipment and have received specialised training in safe bee removal. If the bees must be destroyed, the pest controller is responsible.

Pestcatcher Provide alternatives

When asked to remove bees, the best course of action is to provide our customers with all of these options. In previous years, most people would have simply eliminated the bees. However, as previously stated, there has recently been a push to relocate the bees.

The positive association that comes with no-kill bee removal,  is a significant benefit for the pest control industry. Because of the necessity of removing and killing certain pests, pest control can develop a bad reputation. Removing bees without harming them demonstrates to the public that pest controllers are not “mindless killers” and will always do what is most professional.

Safety comes first when it comes to bee removal!

Regardless of the bee removal method chosen by your customer, bee removal is typically a complex and time-consuming task. Customers are generally concerned about being stung by bees during the removal process, which is a real risk with some types of bees.

If you have a bee problem contact Pestcatcher Pest Control today