Here’s what to do if a bee’s nest is too close to your home.
Gardeners know that all kinds of bees are good for our flower andvegetable gardens.
We want and need these industrious, little workers.
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But sometimes bees get a little too close to home for comfort.
Most of the time, bees do their own thing, foraging for food and raising a colony.
But learning about the insects in your landscape will help you understand how you gotta respond.
Here’s how toco-exist with beesand know when you gotta have a nest removed.
Becky Griffinis a pollinator health associate with the University of Georgia’s Great Southeast Pollinator Census.
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Identify Your Bees
The first step is to identify the insects correctly, says Griffin.
These honey bees are not aggressive, though they will defend the nest if they perceive a threat.
What To Do About Honeybee Swarms
Honey bee colonies reproduce by swarming.
The swarm may settle on a tree branch temporarily until the scout bees find a suitable new home.
A swarm usually relocates to a new location within 24 hours.
For established colonies, the entire nest, combs, and honey must be removed.
Contact yourlocal cooperative extension serviceimmediately.
Its impossible to identify AHBs by appearance, but their behavior is different.
They also swarm multiple times per year, versus European honey bees, which swarm once a year.
Ground nesting bees are not aggressive because they are solitary and wont harm your lawn.
Her offspring hatch the next year.
The best thing to do is ignore these bees; the activity only lasts a few weeks.
Honey Bee Suite.Peppermint wont repel bees, but it may attract them.
Conrad, Ross.Essential Oils and the Beekeeping Industry’s Survival.
