In the early 20th century, before the widespread use of pesticides, the honey bee was a primary source of pollination for agriculture and horticulture in the United States. Honey bees are beneficial insects and are indispensable for crop production because they help plants bloom and reproduce, and insecticides kill plants and animals.
Honey bee colony consists of three types of adult bees; the worker bee, drone bee, and queen bee. Bees are the champion pollinators. Bees attract pollen; they help plants grow and produce food. Therefore, if you’re trying to keep pests away from your home or garden, knowing which solutions are safe for pollinators is also essential.
Pollinator protection is important to keep the cycle of life. And when trying to protect your bees at the hive from pests that are troubling them, ensure you don’t use the wrong approaches, which will end up killing the bees.
Even if you have a bee infestation around your home, deal with this bee problem wisely.
What is pest control for bees?
Pest control for bees is a process of protecting the bee colony from all types of pests, including varroa mites, predatory mites, and wax moths. However, it’s also important to note that some pest control methods could harm bees. So it is essential to know the right approaches to use.
Bee removal service companies work with pest control companies or professionals to ensure their hives are free of pests. This can be done through hive inspection and apiary management techniques.
The commercial beekeeper’s primary method to protect their colony from pests is hive inspection. The hive inspection usually involves looking inside the nest to ensure everything is in good condition.
The second way is called apiary management because it involves varroa mite control; pest control companies call this Integrated Pest Management (IPM). These methods will be discussed here, along with other options you can use instead.
Pest control for honeybees is generally carried out in three stages: prevention, detection, and treatment.
Hive inspection
Bee hive inspection is the most effective way to protect your honey bee nest and ensure they are healthy. It involves looking at the hive to ensure it’s in good condition, checking for varroa mites, and using pesticides as needed.
When you do a bee hive inspection, you can see if there is any damage from pests such as wax moths or small hive beetles. You’ll also be able to tell if there are any signs of disease like nosema.
In addition, you should pay attention to the quality of the honeycomb cells because this can indicate the bee population in a bee colony.
Varroa mite control
The varroa mite is a parasitic insect that feeds on the blood of honeybees and causes them to become disoriented or die. Commercial beekeepers place special devices in varroa traps in the hive to keep their colonies from being infested with varroa mites.
The traps are placed as close to brood frames, where bees spend most of their time. If a varroa mite does enter the hive, it will be caught by a sticky glue pad that keeps it stuck until the beekeeper takes it out.
One common misconception about pest control kill bees is that, it kills all insects, including beneficial insects like butterflies and bees. This isn’t true because there are many different types of biocontrols that you can use instead of pesticides. These biocontrols include predatory insects, parasites, entomopathogenic fungi, and ants. These biocontrols work because they attack specific pests while not affecting the beneficial insects around them.
Bee Yard Management
Bee yard management starts with inspecting and cleaning the hive. This includes taking out dead bees, wax, and other debris. It’s essential to clean the hive so that you can identify any pests that might be present, which is why beekeepers have their process for doing this.
To identify pests, beekeepers use several pest kill bees methods, including asking for help from pest control companies or hiring beekeepers to inspect their hives. For example, if you notice carpenter bees or Africanized honey bees flying around outside your home where there are other plants nearby, you would want to examine the plants because it’s possible that they are being drawn in by an infestation of mites.
Another way to identify pests is by observing how they act near humans or other animals. If they fly away or stop moving when they see humans or animals approaching them, they may be infected with mites or some other type of pest.
Beware not to use yourself as a test subject to check how bees behave around humans, because a bee sting can hurt and make your skin itch. Bee venom has low toxicity but the bee sting will still make you uncomfortable for days.
Does Pest Control Kill Bees? Other Options
There are some methods of bee protection that you can use instead of pesticides. One option is to ensure your garden has some flowers for bees to help them make honey and pollinate the plants.
Another option is to provide a dedicated bee house that provides a place for bees to live and raise their young.
The third option is to provide shelter in your yard or home, such as with a bird feeder or animal cage, for stray swarms of bees migrating from other areas.
Conclusion
Does pest control kill bees? It depends on the action you take. Some bee sprays in the market are harmful. Be careful not to spray drift while dealing with your bee problem. You can check Home Depot or Amazon for good bee spray. Don’t forget to read the reviews.
