Controlling or Exterminating Bees and Wasps

Bees play an important role in nature. They pollinate plant and flower life, control other pests and produce honey. However, they can also sting.

While a few rogue bees in your back yard now and again is certainly not cause for alarm, a swarm of them living in a playground, near a home entrance or other area where one is likely to be stung is. Irritated worker bees can pursue what they sense is an intruder, which at best can lead to a few painful stings and at worst to death. While this is rare, it is certainly a concern.

Bee and Wasp Species

According to Better Pest Control, www.betterpestcontrol.com, there are several bee species. While most people envision bumblebees, that is to say bees swarming around a hive, many bees actually live in burrows. Some burrow into wood. Wasps, like bumblebees, create colonies. Wasps are particularly dangerous because while a common bee can only sting once, wasps can sting several times.

While there have been instances where wood-burrowing species have damaged homes, most prefer the rotting wood of trees. Bees who develop hives can still cause great damage to one's home should they find a means of establishing a hive within the structure, such as within a wall. In such instances there is some risk that the weight of the honey produced can actually cause drywall to crumble, subjecting residents to a swarm of angry bees. This is also very rare. Most colonies can be identified by a number of protective males swarming about the area, though some may be more difficult to pinpoint.

Controlling Bees and Wasps

Because of their environmental value, many pest companies recommend controlling bee populations rather than exterminating them. You can prevent a wood-burrowing species from damaging your home or establishing a colony in a dangerous area by applying bee repellants. Other repellants can be sprayed near areas where bees already exist, but you should be cautious. Not only is this method dangerous for one who is unprotected, it is dangerous for others. The bees may simply swarm to a neighbor's home, rather than to a safer place.

A particularly dangerous or severe bee infestation may call for extermination. Better Pest Control notes that there are several methods for exterminating a bee population, such as sprays or dusts. Ground-burrowing bees can usually be exterminated by dusting the area with an exterminating powder at night. While sprays can be used for these species, dust is not absorbed by the soil as other chemicals are.

Better Pest Control reports that aerosol injection systems are usually the most efficient and safest way to treat be or wasp hives. You should not seal the treated area for at least 24-48 hours so there's enough time for the queen to be exposed to a lethal dose. Newly matured bees should also be exposed to a lethal dose before they emerge.

While you can buy and use the proper chemicals for bee extermination or control, you need to keep in mind that they can be quite dangerous. It is critical for you to take proper precautions and cover yourself from head to toe. Those who are allergic to bees should forgo do-it-yourself extermination and hire a professional. Those with pets or small children who could be adversely affected by these chemicals might also consider hiring a professional.