We love bees when they’re out and about in nature, pollinating flowers, producing delicious honey, and living their best lives. What’s not great is when bees and humans try to live in the same location. Since we all need to get along, here’s some information about what to do if you have bees on your property. We will resist as many puns as possible as we go bee-hind the scenes to give you the buzz on bees (Ok, maybe not!).
When are bees most active?
Like most of us, bees prefer warmer weather and temperatures, so you’ll start to notice them in the air as winter turns into spring. Bees then become more active as we move into summertime, when they are gearing up to welcome new ba-bees into the colony.
Interesting bee facts
Did you know that the term beehive refers to structures made by humans for housing bees, whereas naturally occurring bee homes are called nests? Un-bee-lievably, the bees you mostly see in nests in suburban gardens are not native to Australia. They are an introduced species called the European or Western Honey bee and were brought into Australia with European colonists in the early 1800s for their honey-making skills. Native Australian Bees don’t live in colonies and, therefore, don’t produce copious amounts of honey like European bees.
Signs you may have a bee nest
Bees aren’t dangerous unless you provoke them or get caught in a swarm, but if you notice them around, you might want to think about having the bees removed from areas you frequently move through.
On your property, you might hear them before you see them. A constant buzzing noise is a dead giveaway of a bee nest nearby. The other most obvious sign is seeing bees buzzing around in the same area.
Why do bees swarm?
Quite simply, it’s because of the need for more room. When a colony outgrows its current space as new arrivals come along, the current Queen leaves and workers follow, or a new Queen may emerge in the nest, forcing the current one out. That must really sting!
Can I remove bees myself?
If you bumble the bee removal, agitated bees can be extremely dangerous so we don’t recommend you try this at all. You should always treat bees and their nests with caution and a qualified professional should be engaged to move the bees to a more suitable location, or deal with the nest if it’s been established.
What Spiderman SE can do?
Our team includes two specially trained beekeepers who are skilled in bee removal and can assess what action needs to be taken.
If the nest is very difficult to reach and relocate, we then blow insecticide powder into the nest. We always prefer not to have to do this, if possible, bee-cause we love bees, but of course, we understand sometimes there is no other choice.
We’re happy to talk through the options with you. Call us if you’ve been bee-spotted and want advice on the best way forward.