Bee Control in Melbourne
Getting rid of Bees is a lot easier with us around!
Bees are in general good for the environment, and also give us honey and wax. Nevertheless, inside homes and other premises, they can be serious pest. Their stings are painful, and if attacked by an entire swam, deadly.
Types of bees in Melbourne
There are 4 types in the Melbourne region. And the good news is that they all sting only when provoked, and are not pests otherwise.
- Honey bees (Apis mellifera): Black and yellow, they are about 1/2 to 5/8" in size. Extremely social, they live in hives with a population of upto 50,000 headed by a queen. They like nesting in tree hollows, fence-posts, logs and of course in beekeepers' box hives.
- Bumble bees (Bombus pennsylvanicus): Introduced from America, they are between 1/2 to 1" long and covered in fuzzy hair. They are black behind their wings with three yellow stripes. They make their hives at ground level, in rat holes, under sheds or compost piles. Both worker and queen bumble bees can sting multiple times and will survive after stinging you.
- Carpenter bees (Xylocopa): 1/2 to 1", are also black and yellow like bumblebees, but aren't covered in fuzz. They are solitary, and prefer to nest and hover in parks, woods and fields. They build their nest by burrowing into wood (that's how they get their name), but don't eat the wood from inside.
- Teddy bear bees (Amegilla bombiformis): They resemble bumblebees in shape, but are covered in orange-brown fuzz, with 6-7 dark, hairless bands on the abdomen. They nest in burrows in the ground, such as under rubble piles. Usually harmless, they will sting only if provoked.
Bees in your home
They like to stay away from humans, so they build their nest out of sight, in places like tree hollows. However, an unused attic or garden shed, roof spaces, or an air-conditioning vent might be attractive to them. Here's how to spot an infestation:
- You see a nest or wax comb
- You can see swarms around your property
- You can hear its familiar buzz
- You can see them coming out of and going into a gap in your wall or roof
- There are pollen stains around holes in walls or roofs
- There is a persistent smell, like that of cut grass
How they can affect you, your home and your business.
The most important danger from bees is their sting. For most people, it only causes severe pain and swelling, but for some people it can cause an allergic reaction ranging from itching, hives or welts, to swelling of the face, tongue or throat, to cramps, dizziness and nausea. Some cases are known to turn fatal.
Apart from that, carpenter bees can cause damage by boring into wood, such as roof rafters, unvarnished wooden walls etc. The nests of all types are usually built in sheltered places, and if built in vents, ducts etc, can interfere with the functioning of electronic devices, block gutters etc.
- When working in your garden, where bees hover to collect nectar from flowers, wear protection for the face (a veil or net), hands (gloves) and feet (sturdy shoes), alongside full-body clothing.
- Ensure that attics, garden sheds etc are visited and aired regularly.
- Ensure that there are no cavities or other spaces for them to build nests.
- Keep an eye out for the signs of boring by carpenter bees.
It is usually futile to use DIY sprays due to their sheer number. Removing the nest is often the only solution, but it should be done only by experts.
Why Choose Protech Pest control?
When you hire Protech Pest Control, we first inspect your house and its surroundings for the type of bees and their hive sites. We will then exterminate the pests using non-toxic chemical and physical methods. We have experts in hive removal who will ensure no traces remain.
Call us from anywhere in Melbourne on 1300 780 980