Bee & Wasp Control and Nest Removal MN
Despite a winter that just wouldn’t seem to let go, spring is finally here. How do I know this? I know this because Pest Control Experts are getting a lot of calls about bees hanging out in trees already. The bees are swarming, and homeowners are looking for help coping with the sudden bee invasion.
So why are bee mobs suddenly invading our trees and landscapes? And what do we need to do to protect ourselves and our loved ones this summer?
Bees on park bench
It Must Bee Spring!
The first thing to know is that this is prime bee swarming season. Bee “mobs” (actually swarms) are the bees’ way of coping with rapid colony growth in the spring following the return of flowers and their abundant supply of pollen and nectar. As the colony begins to grow and crowd the nest, worker bees begin producing a new queen and drones (male bees). Just before the new queen emerges, the old queen takes a portion of the colony and leaves her hive in search of a new home.
In flight, a bee swarm resembles a tornado of bees. The departure of the queen from the old colony is the trigger for the swarm, and the worker bees generally follow the queen wherever she goes. In the course of this bee exodus, the queen and her colony occasionally stop to rest. Resting sites may include just about anything from a tree branch to a car, a park bench to backyard play equipment.
Watch Out For Bee & Wasp Nests
Now is a good time to take a close look for bee and wasp nests around your home. They are getting large enough to be noticed but have not reached their peak size yet. Wasps can nest in a variety of locations. Some species commonly nest under eaves of homes, the branches of trees and shrubs, and similar open, exposed areas. They also commonly nest in the ground, especially in old rodent burrows, as well as wall voids, attics, and other hidden sites. If you see any kind of persistent activity of wasps in a particular location, take a closer look to see if there is a nest involved.
Wasp nests can be found in the most unexpected places
Here is a wasp nest that was found nesting in the tail pipe of a unused van
One wasp, the European paper wasp, is interesting because of its ability to construct small nests in many different, unusual sites. Just in the author’s backyard, they have been found nesting in the tail pipe of a unused van and inside an unused bird feeder. Paper wasps typically nest on the underside of horizontal surfaces. However, European paper wasps have the ability to construct their nests at angles. This wasp is also somewhat unique because while other wasps do not reuse their nests, they frequently reuse them which can result in larger than normal sized nests (for a paper wasp).
If you do find a wasp nest, the particular control you use will depend on factors, such as where the nest is located, how close to human activity it is, and whether the nest is out in the open or hidden.
