Bees are one of those pests you can’t live with and can’t live without – in the most literal sense. If you live too close to bees, you’ll wind up stung, but a world without bees is without many of the crops that humans and animals depend upon for survival. That means a world without bees could very well be without people or many other species that depend upon the plants bees pollinate. Here in California, our state economy is also partially dependent on bees because of all the cash crops that need them for pollination (like almonds). You have to be careful how you deal with bees when formulating your San Mateo pest control plan for all these reasons.
The Important Role Bees Play In Our Environment
Both bees and wasps are vital pollinators in ecosystems all over the world. However, in particular, the honeybee is one of our area’s most prolific pollinators. Bees use flower nectar to make honey to feed their colonies. When they fly into nectar-producing flowers, bees pick up pollen in their leg fuzz. They then carry this pollen to other flowers to fertilize the next generation of plants.
The relationship between bees and plants is a symbiotic one that dates back millions of years – to the point that many food chains and even whole ecosystems depend upon it. This is why you’ll want to be as careful as possible when selecting pest control methods for bees. Subjecting bees to wholesale slaughter is not the best way to deal with a bee problem in a world where bee numbers are already crashing.
Why Bees In The Yard Can Be A Problem
On the flip side, bees might be good for the environment, but they’re not exactly a friend to your backyard barbeque. They can be highly aggressive in defense of their nests. Some bee species, like Africanized honeybees, will swarm and even give chase to anything that remotely disturbs their nests. This can result in hundreds of stings and, rarely, even death. Not to mention that as little as a single sting can land you in the hospital or the morgue if you have an allergy to insect venom. That’s why you’ll want to take measures that deter bees from nesting on your property.
Four Environmentally-Friendly Bee Prevention Tips
Knowing how to control bees in San Mateo can help you avoid any unpleasant conflicts with them that could result in injury to people, bees, or both:
- Use smells bees hate, like peppermint oil or eucalyptus oil, around your home.
- Plant herbs and flowers that repel bees, like mint, thyme, and geraniums.
- Avoid offering bees easy pickings – e.g., don’t leave sugary drinks uncovered and get rid of sugary attractants like hummingbird feeders and high-nectar flowers.
- Don’t use bright colors in your yard. Examples could include red umbrellas, yellow lawn chairs, orange pergola canopies, etc.
Making sure your yard doesn’t have any food sources for bees and is full of plants they hate instead can encourage them not to nest in or even come around your property.
Contact Experts For Safe Bee Removal
If you wind up with a bee infestation on your property, do not try to remove it yourself. Bee and wasp removal should be left to professional pest control services, like the experts here at Pacific Pest Management. Not doing so could result in stings and even severe attacks that land you in the hospital. That’s why, if you’ve got bees nesting on your property, you should give us a call or visit our contact page right away.