Average cost is $275.00
For hives 6ft or higher, price starts at $325.00
Additional guarantee periods may be purchased for all cleanouts
at a cost of $65.00 per month

Of all insect species, the honey bee is perhaps the most beneficial. There is, of course, honey: about 200 million pounds of it is produced commercially each year. But the honey bee makes its greatest contribution by pollinating plants. More than one half of all fruit and vegetable crops are pollinated by honey bees. Wasps contribute by preying on many pest insects harmful to crops. Without bees and wasps, our menu would be very limited. Unfortunately, bees and wasps can be a threat to human health. Each year, 50 to 100 people die from bee and wasp stings. Most die from an allergic reaction to venom within one hour of the sting. About 1 percent of the population is allergic to bee and wasp venom. Those allergic to stings should carry emergency epinephrine injection kits as directed by their doctors.

Identification

Though related, bees and wasps differ in important ways. Most wasps have a narrow “waistline” where the front portion of the abdomen tapers to become a small tube as it attaches to the middle body section, the thorax. Bees do not have this narrowing of the abdomen. Another difference is that bees feed nectar and pollen to their young (larvae), while wasps feed their larvae insects and spiders. Yellow jackets and hornets also scavenge food including fruit, sweets, meats and carrion. One thing bees and wasps have in common is that some species are solitary and others are social. A solitary bee or wasp lives alone, making its own nest and raising its own larvae. Individuals of social species live together in colonies consisting of many “workers” and one or more “queens.” The workers specialize in different tasks, and cooperate to raise the queen’s offspring. These species should be considered a greater threat to humans than solitary species. This is because social species, such as honey bees and yellow jackets, will defend an entire colony, and have more individuals available to do so. Solitary species, such as mud dauber wasps, defend their nest alone.

Managing Bees and Wasps

The most important element of wasp and bee control is to destroy the nest. Aerosol “wasp and hornet” sprays can be used to knock down bees/wasps around the nest. Small amounts of pesticides (dust and wettable powder formulations work well) applied into the nests of carpenter bees and cicada killers provide good control. Nests of mud daubers can also be controlled this way or by simply scraping them off structures. To prevent reinfestation, finishes (paint, etc.) can be applied to unfinished wood to discourage carpenter bees. Sometimes, yellow jacket and honey bee nests occur in voids such as vents, attics, crawlspaces or hollow walls. Destroying nests in these locations can be difficult, requiring the services of pest management professionals. Another special case occurs when large numbers of yellow jackets forage in public areas such as parks, schools and zoos. Attracted to human food, especially meats and sweet liquids, wherever it is being prepared, eaten or discarded, yellow jackets pose an increased threat to humans. Control is often difficult. When located in wooded areas, the nests can be difficult if not impossible to find and treat.

A trained pest control technician should be called in to eliminate the immediate population, with pesticides. Also conducting a visual inspection to detect any areas that mechanical control can be applied.

WE ABOLISH BEES AND WASPS