Do not rely on blog posts that say you do not have any more reason to see a doctor for a bee sting.bBees are one of the most commonly found pests. We receive several calls from residents of Tinley Park asking how to get rid of bees. So while our bee exterminators are busy serving the residents of Tinley Park on the field, our subject experts decided to articulate all your queries regarding how you can avoid a sting.

We will learn a lot of things about bee’s characteristics including how you can keep them away from your home. Many are scared of this stinging insect. Are they a serious threat? Could bees sting for no reason?

What Are Bees?

Bees are insects closely related to ants and wasps. There are over 16,000 known species of bees.  Bees are present in all the continents in the world except Antarctica. Bees are the reason we get to have food on the table. These flying species are responsible for the majority of pollination.

The majority of the bee species (>90%) are solitary bees. It includes carpenter bees, mason bees, sweat bees, and leafcutter bees. Some of the social bees are bumble bees, honey bees, stingless bees, etc. Black bumble bee are one of the biggest bee species. And the most commonly known species are the western honey bees. These stinging insects live in bee hives and produce honey.

 How Do You Identify a Honey Bee?

People often confuse bees and wasp. Both wasps and honey bees are stinging insects. The easiest way to identify a bee is the size. The female bees carry stingers, while male bees don’t. The female bees use the stinger to sting enemies to protect themselves. Male bees are called drones.

A honeybee is relatively smaller than wasps. The usual honey bee is about 1.5 centimeters in length. The largest honey bee is the bumble bee. They are black and yellow. Many wasps share the same colors but they are much bigger. Both these insects sting to protect themselves.

What do honey bees eat?

A honey bee consumes nectar and pollen from flowers. They search for food. That is the reason you see the bees sting insects near your flowers. Pollen is a powdery dust-like product produced by flowers, and nectar is a sweet fluid.

The larvae in the hives consume honey. But the larvae chosen to become queens are fed with royal jelly. It is a white secretion produced by young female workers.

The young larvae are also fed the jelly, but for a limited period. The larvae that will grow and become queen of respective colonies are fed the royal jelly throughout their development period. The queen honey bee grows and becomes twice the size of young worker bees and male drones.

How Do Honey bees Make a bee hive?

Honey bees make the bee hive out of wax. The bees secrete the wax from their glands in the abdomen. A worker bee will eat honey and convert the sugar. It then comes out of her body through pores. The worker bee chews it and mixes it with saliva to make the wax pliable.

The beehive mostly consists of interlocking hexagonal cells. A typical bee hive consists of approximately 100,000 such cells. Each nest contains one queen. The queen may lay about 2000 eggs a day. The other bees of the nest, follow the queen if it moves away from the nest. The queen is relatively bigger.

What are the signs of honey bee infestation?

Bee seasons are related to seasonal patterns and temperature. After hibernating over the winter, bees build their colony and collect nectar and pollen from preferred plants. Some of the bee species feed on a variety of flowers while others are selective.

Some of the commonly encountered bees are honey bees, bumble bees, and carpenter bees. They get active in spring and remain throughout the summer. Once the winter arrives, they prepare for hibernation.

The easiest signs of a honey bee infestation are the visual signs. If you see honey bees near your garden frequently in good numbers, it is a sign of infestation. Search for the beehive in possible locations on your property. When you cannot easily locate the hive, call an expert as early as possible. You would not like to wait until bees sting you or your pets. One reason bees sting is to defend themselves from any enemy. They die after they sting.

What Attracts Bees?

If you are seeing a lot of bees in and around your home, there are chances of having a beehive on your property. But what attracted the bees to your house? What can be the reason these bees will sting you?

Bees are attracted to flowers. If you have a garden that offers a wide variety of flowers, bees may come in search of the flowers. And if your house contains a preferred location for constructing hives, they won't hesitate to build bee hives.

The most common bees that come into human contact are western honey bees and bumble bees. Bumble bees are about 1.5 to 2.5 centimeters in length. The body of a bumble bee has a hairy touch. Bumble bees often nest in the ground.

What do you do if a bee lands on you?

When your home has a beehive, it is very likely to have bees come close to you. You do not want to get stung, and you panic. But fear will only bring more trouble.

You do not want to get stung by bees. Bees sting in defense when they feel threatened. When bees happen to reside indoors, the probability to get stung by the bees is higher.

So, hold back your fear, stay calm, and do not show any reaction. Avoid doing movements and do not hurt the bee to avoid a sting. You can gently remove the bee from your skin or just let it fly on its own after a few moments. This is how you could avoid getting stung by bees.

Do bees sting for no reason?

The answer is no. It is a very unlikely circumstance that bees sting when you do not bother them. Honey bees leave the stinger after stinging you. Sometimes you may get stung by a bee if you mistakenly hurt or disturb it. You can avoid bee stings by staying far away from the colony.

After bees sting, they die. So they use their precious stinger only for defense. If you get stung, it is because any of your activity has disturbed them.

How do you avoid getting stung by a bee?

Bees sting when they feel threatened. It is not very difficult to avoid bee’s sting. If you have located a bee hive in and around your home, the best way to avoid getting a sting is to stay away from it. Bees generally nest in places that have fewer human activities.

However, they may nest inside of your home sometimes where human activities are most frequent. It increases the possibility of getting a sting or more. Bees die once they leave their stinger.

If a bee comes near you, the easiest way to avoid getting a sting is not to hurt it. There is very little probability that bees sting until they feel threatened. Stay calm and let the bees fly away without pinching you with their stingers. Call an expert before bees sting anyone in your family.

 

How do you treat a bee sting?

Honey bee’s sting can be easily treated at home. Honey bees release acidic venom and you require a base solution to nullify the effects of the sting. But first, remove the stinger as soon as possible.

Yes, honey bees leave the stinger in your skin after stinging and then they die. You can apply a cold pack to reduce swelling and pain. Here are some home remedies to treat honey bee's sting.

• Honey: Applying honey to the bee sting area may reduce pain and itching. Apply a small amount of honey in the area of the bee sting and cover with a loose bandage.
• Baking Soda: Make a paste of baking soda using water. Apply a thick layer of it on the sting affected area. Check it after 15 minutes and you can reapply if needed. It may help neutralize the acidic bee venom and reduce pain, itching, and swelling.
• Toothpaste:  The alkaline toothpaste may neutralize the acidic bee venom and give you relief from the bee sting.
• Aloe vera: Break an aloe vera leaf and squeeze the gel onto the bee sting area. It may provide relief from pain.

Be sure of the symptoms you are facing after getting stung by a bee. Consult a physician without any delay if the sting gives you allergic reactions. Do not rely on blog posts on the internet that say you do not need to see a doctor for a bee sting. The reason for this is that bees sting varies from person to person.

Are bee stings more painful than wasp stings?

Honey bee stings are less painful than wasps. But do not ignore it as there are more dangerous bee species. Wasps are more aggressive insects than bees. They can sting you several times and wasp stings are generally more painful than bees. A group attack by wasps can be fatal. Many people are allergic to wasp stings or wasp venom that increase the associated risks.

But sometimes bee stings can be dangerous as well. If your homes have any animal or children, they are at higher risk. If you get a wasp sting what to do next when you experience different symptoms is to seek immediate medical attention in such situations.

What are the differences between bees and wasps?

The very first difference between these insects is the size. Bees are relatively smaller than wasps.  Wasps possess a bigger threat to humans while many homes coexist with honeybees without many problems. Honeybees do provide honey while there are no such direct benefits from wasps.

If you have encountered any stinging insect in and around your home, consult a pest control professional for any advice or treatment. Call us today for any queries regarding our pest control services in Tinley Park.

Are honey bees and hornets the same?

The answer is a no. Honey bees and hornets are not the same. Though they may appear similar to the eyes of a normal individual, they are quite different. Many blog posts address hornets as a type of bee. Whereas hornets are more related to wasps.

Honey bees are species of bees, while hornets are a type of wasps. The latter is more aggressive between the two. As many people confuse bees and other stinging insects, we always recommend consulting a pest control professional.

 

What are Africanized killer bees?

Though European honey bees are the most common bee species in the United States, Africanised honey bees have been identified in many states. These bees appear similar to European honey bees, but they are more aggressive.

They attack in large numbers which can be fatal. Consult a pest control service provider to investigate the beehive at your property. Do not rely on blog posts that say you do not need to see a doctor for a bees sting.

Do wasps sting you for no reason?

Generally, it is very unlikely to get stung by a wasp without a reason. It is even rarer with solitary wasps. But if you, unfortunately, threaten a solitary wasp, its sting gives you a very painful experience. You should immediately take medical support as a sting can be fatal sometimes. Stay away from solitary wasps as much as possible.

On the other hand, social wasps are very aggressive. They come at you in groups and possess an extreme threat to pets and children. People who are allergic to wasp sting should take special precautions if there is a colony on the property.

Wasp venoms are alkaline. It causes more pain and itching than a bee sting. If you are not experiencing major symptoms, you should be able to treat a wasp sting at home. Wash the sting affected area with water and soap. Many apply vinegar on the sting affected area to neutralize the alkalinity of the wasp sting.

What attracts bees to humans?

Bees are attracted to bright colors and certain smells. If you are wearing a bright color dress or using some perfume, it may attract bees to you. Wear light-colored clothing to avoid bees.

Another element that attracts bees to you is sweet perfumes. Avoid using such perfumes to avoid getting stung by bees.

What triggers bees to attack humans?

Generally, honey bees sting only to defend their nest or colony. But that does not exclude stings outside the nest whenever they are disturbed. Honey bees die after stinging you and they leave the stinger in your skin. They sacrifice their lives to defend the colony.

Expect a group attack if any of your activities disturb the beehive directly or indirectly. Therefore, keep your children and pets as far as possible from the hive.

How do you stop bees from attacking you?

If you have unknowingly disturbed a beehive, the first thing to do is run away. Get into a car or other enclosed shelter so that bees cannot reach with their stingers. If that is not the option, run until the bees stop chasing you.

One common idea that strikes everyone’s mind is to jump into the water. This might not be the best idea as bees may wait above water with their stingers. If you get attacked by bees, consult a physician for treatment. Do not forget to remove the stinger in the first place.

Should I kill a bee if it lands on me?

The first thing to do when a bee lands on you is to stay calm, peaceful and do not show any reaction. Do not cause harm to the bee in fear. Make very little movement so that the bees don't feel threatened and put the stinger into your skin. Bees die after they leave the stinger.

Stay still and remove the bee gently. Do not swat the bee. If you swat the bee it will use its stinger in defense. If you have made up your mind to treat the colony on your own, always wear protective gear as a lot of bees will come to you with their stingers.

Should I get rid of bees?

The answer to this question generally depends on your requirements. Bees are important to our ecosystem. They are responsible for the majority of the food we produce in the world. There are global concerns to protect bees and many people do not find problems coexisting with bees.

However, it is not always a peaceful existence. So when should you consider treating a beehive?

• Nests inside your home: Many times bees happen to nest inside your home, garage, or any other structure. Your movement could disturb the colony resulting in a bunch of bees sting your family to defend the colony. So, take proper measures to get rid of the nest.
• Allergies to bees: Allergies to bee stings can be fatal sometimes. If anyone in your family faces an allergy to bee stings, it will be an ideal decision to get rid of the beehive.
• Children and pets: Homes with any animal or pet and children should take additional measures to protect against any possibility of bee stings. Call us today to get rid of these sting insects at your convenience.

How do you get rid of honey bees naturally?

You may not need a pest control professional when the bee hive is at an early stage. There are many home remedies you may apply to remove the tiny bee population from your property. However, always wear protective gear to avoid bee stings.

• Contact a beekeeper: Beekeepers have experience handling bees. They should have no problem dealing with a small nest. Beekeepers will take the beehive and the colony will then grow under their supervision.
• Mothballs: Bees do not like the smell of mothballs. You could hang a pocket of them near the beehive or other places to repel bees.
• Smoke: Smoke is an easy and effective method to drive away bees from the nest. You could burn cardboard, rotten wood, or paper under the beehive. Perform it at night so that all the bees are in the colony and do not forget to wear protective gear. It will take several hours to move away from the bees completely.
• Vinegar Spray: Take a spray bottle and put vinegar to its 40-50% volume. Fill the remaining with water and mix the solution properly. Spray it around the colony at night and it should drive the bees away.
• Garlic Spray: Make a spray solution from crushed garlic cloves and water. You will need to spray the solution around the nesting area for several days.
• Soap and water: The mixture of soap and water cuts off air supply to the nest. Using soap and water is a risky option as the bees will come at you. You must wear protective gear to protect yourself against bee stings.
• Bee repelling plants: Bee repelling plants are good options to prevent a bee infestation in the first place. You could host pennyroyal, neem, eucalyptus, mint, and cloves in your garden or yard.
• Bee trap: One simple way to reduce the bee population is to trap them. Though it may not solve the problem completely, it helps control the numbers. You can construct a bee trap yourself, or get a commercially available bee trap.
• Water the lawn: There are bee species that nest in the ground. To prevent these from an infestation in your yard, you could water the lawn frequently. Ground nesting bees are generally solitary and less aggressive.

Make sure you wear protective gear whenever you apply to spray on or near the beehive.

Should I use pesticides on bees?

Using a pesticide should be the last resort for treating any kind of pest infestation. Also, we always provide advice to take professional help to prevent any potential threat.  You may use the following methods to get rid of bees.

• Bee spray: Bee sprays act on the bee’s nervous system. It causes paralysis eventually leading to death. You need to be careful while dealing with such pesticides. These chemicals maybe harmful to both humans and animals. Maintain a safe distance from the nest while spraying and wear protective gear.
• Insecticidal dust: You may apply insecticidal dust on bees to kill the nest. Then, follow the instructions in the manual guide.
• Electric bug zapper: Installing an electric bug zapper is one of the easiest ways to reduce the bee’s population or any other flying insect.

 

How much does it cost to remove a large bee nest?

Removing a large bee nest may cost anything between $100 and $1000. Moreover, the cost depends on the species and treatment required for the nests. The investment is worth the effective bee control solution against stinging insects. We provide you a free quote to make the bee control process easy and convenient for you.

• Easy-to-access treatment: Sometimes, the bee nests are located in easily accessible areas. In that case, you already know the location of the beehive when you call the bee extermination technicians. The treatment cost of a bee infestation is relatively less and the treatment is faster.
• Hard-to-access treatment: But sometimes you may see bees flying in and around your home, but unable to locate their nests. It maybe because the stinging insects are nesting in inaccessible areas like cracks within walls, hollow tree branches, etc. Such nests are difficult to locate and require special tools and techniques to treat. The cost may get higher in such conditions. Treating the beehive becomes even more crucial when you are unable to locate the nest.

While DIY methods can give you partial relief, they may not solve the underlying problem. Take help from professional pest control service providers to solve your problem and exterminate wasp and bees permanently. Every property needs a unique solution based on bee species, nest location, and many other factors.

A.N.T. PEST CONTROL provides quality bee control solutions to keep away these unwanted guests from your property. We will also take care of other pests on your property like yellow jackets, ants, carpet beetles, and more at your safety, and convenience. We take special care of your pets and children while designing a treatment plan. Give us a call today!