Bee Control in West Yorkshire

The most common type of bee that invades homes in the UK are Honey bees and Bumblebees.

How can we control Honey bees?

Honey bees are extremely important, they are the world’s most important pollinator of food crops, as well as pollinating other plants, flowers and trees. They also produce the delicious honey which many of us humans love to consume, as well as other bee products such as beeswax.

In general, they are harmless as long as they are left alone and undisturbed, however, there are times when the honey bee can actually become a pest if found within the domestic environment. It is under these circumstances that it may be necessary to remove and relocate the hive to a safer location, that’s where West Yorkshire Pest Control come in!

Although honey bees are nice to have around, they can occasionally end up constructing their hives within cavity walls, chimneys and under roof tiles within people’s homes, and this is where they can cause problems.

Honey produced by the bees within the hive can drip down and cause staining to ceilings, walls etc. As well as this, honey bee hives can become extremely large and heavy, potentially causing ceilings to collapse under the weight of them.

Having a hive of honey bees within your home can also bring with it other pest species such as fruit flies, ants, moths and lice which can quickly become a problem within themselves.

Another reason why having a honey bee hive within your home can be a risk to your health is the fact that some colonies often become aggressive when disturbed. This can result in people being stung multiple times. Although it is unpleasant for anyone to be attacked by a swarm of angry bees, for certain people it can become a massive risk to their health especially if they are allergic. An allergic reaction from a bee sting can lead to intense swelling around the sting area, anaphylactic shock and in worst case scenarios, possibly even death.

Unlike wasp nests which will only last for one season, a honey bee colony will continue to grow year on year. If left alone it will continue to grow to massive proportions as the years go on. The longer the colony is left to grow the heavier the hive will get and the more honey it will have produced, and in turn, the more possible damage that the hive might have caused to your property. For this reason, West Yorkshire Pest Control recommends that you contact a professional such as ourselves to come out and safely remove and relocate the honey bee hive from within your property. Honey bee hive removals do not involve killing the bees, it simply involves removing the full colony of bees along with the honeycomb they have produced. We will then relocate the bees and their hive to one of our own honey bee hives where they will continue to live their lives undisturbed in rural Yorkshire.

How can bumblebees become a pest in a domestic environment?

Although bumblebee colonies are short-lived, and the bees are usually relatively harmless, they can often decide to build their nests within the roof spaces of houses. They tend to take a liking to loft insulation which they commonly construct their nests under.

It is here where they can cause a nuisance. bumblebee hives can be quite loud due to the vibration and movement of hundreds of bees within the roof space.

People will often hear strange noises and vibrations coming from the loft space and it is more often than not bumblebees who are the culprit. These loud noises can become a nuisance to homeowners, especially during the night when they are trying to sleep and all they can hear is vibration noises coming from their loft.

Another way in which bumblebees can become a pest within the domestic environment is the fact that they can often become aggressive if disturbed. They are extremely sensitive to vibration and if their nest is accidentally disturbed by a person or pet who doesn’t know they are there, the bees will presume the hive is under attack and they will respond in an aggressive manner. Often this results in being stung multiple times which is not at all pleasant, especially in an environment where children or pets may be present.

How can West Yorkshire Pest Control help with bumblebees?

Here at West Yorkshire Pest Control, we believe bumblebees are also important as they are pollinators of many native plant species. If left alone bumblebees pose little risk and are generally docile unless disturbed. A bumblebee nest is only active for a few months of the year and therefore they aren’t around for long.

We also know that there are sadly times when a bumblebee nest can become a nuisance within the household. They can also pose a risk to the health and safety of children and pets if the nest is in close proximity to a property. It is under these circumstances that it is necessary to remove and safely relocate the bumblebee nest.

This is a process that is done safely and professionally and does not harm the colony. It involves the whole nest along with the bees in the colony been lifted out of the location and carefully placed into a breathable container. Bumblebee nests are small in comparison to honey bee hives so the process is much simpler and doesn’t take too long at all.

After the bumblebee nest has been safely removed, we then relocate the nest to a safe environment where the bees are left to live out the rest of their cycle and produce the next generation of bumblebees ready for the following season.