Insecticide For Honey Bees

Honey bees are used commercially to make honey and they also pollinate the crops we eat. However, the number of honeybees has steadily declined over the past few decades due in large part to the use of insecticides. Insecticides used in agricultural practices and developed countries have been proven to be harmful to honey bees. This has led to the development of new pesticides that are not as harmful, or at least less harmful, for the purpose of your own home apiary or beekeeping business.

Insecticide For Honey Bees

Some homeowners become concerned about these swarms of bees they find clustering on trees in their yards. Swarming bees usually are not aggressive and are not likely to sting unless disturbed. Bee swarms usually find a home within a day or so and the cluster will leave the tree limb on their own. Occasionally a small number of bees are left behind on the limb. They will not survive on their own and will die within a few days. Swarms of this type are often sought by beekeepers.

 

Bees in Buildings

 

Usually scout bees select a hollow tree, but many times the wall voids of homes or buildings are chosen for colony sites. The bees may nest in the wall or attic some distance from where they enter the wall. The nest is the comb on which the bees rest, rear brood and store honey.

 

Colonies of bees that establish themselves in attics or wall voids of homes near a home can be serious problems. After bees establish permanent homes, they can become very defensive and are much more likely to sting than are swarms. Salvaging colonies from wall voids may not be practical, but in some situations it may be possible. Concerns about Colony Collapse Disorder and the general decline in honey bee colony numbers have persuaded many homeowners to find ways to salvage honey bee colonies.

 

The homeowner may be able to find a list of local beekeepers willing to remove bees from structures through the local county extension office or even by contacting a local fire station. Be certain to establish an understanding with anyone removing bees regarding cleanup and repairs that may be needed post removal.

 

In situations where the colony cannot be removed by a beekeeper, exterminating procedures are recommended. It is always best to remove or destroy bees enhived too close to human activity.

 

Protection

 

Even if you are not sensitive to stings and are experienced in extermination work, it is wise to protect yourself. Distracting stings when exterminating bees in precarious positions may result in a fall from a ladder or roof. Minimum protection should include at least wearing a beekeeper’s veil and leather gloves. It is also advisable to wear light colored coveralls with the sleeve and leg cuffs tucked in or closed with strong rubber bands. A bee smoker will help enormously to calm the bees and lessen their tendency to sting.

 

Control

 

Ficam dust is the only insecticide registered to exterminate bees from dwellings. If it is not applied correctly, persistent efforts may be needed to finally accomplish the job. Ficam dusted into the bee entrance may not reach the nest which can be some distance from the entrance. Foraging bees passing through the dusted area will be killed, but the queen and house bees (bees that stay home to take care of brood, etc.) may continue to live for some time. When house bees (young bees that remain in the hive) mature to take on field work chores, the colony may recover, unless the insecticide treatment is reapplied. Quicker and safer results will be received if the nest itself is treated.

 

The nest can be located sometimes by tapping the wall with a hammer and listening for an answering buzz from the bees. When the nest is located, a hole may be bored, preferably through the outside wall, so the insecticide can be applied onto the nest. Swarms are more easily killed soon after they enter the building. Established swarms are best killed in late winter when their numbers are low. The best time of the day to apply the insecticide is in late afternoon when all the bees are at home. The bees will be less cross on nice days than when the weather is over‑cast or rainy. Do not plug the hole immediately after dusting the nest because this may force agitated bees into the living quarters of the home.

 

Prevention

 

After the bees are killed, it is best to remove the nest if it can be done without causing extensive structural damage. Remove and discard the comb and honey. Do not salvage these materials if the colony was treated with insecticide. If the nest is not removed, the wax may melt or be riddled by wax moth larvae and begin to leak honey. If there is much honey it can seep through interior walls, leaving a permanent stain. Bees from other colonies can also be a nuisance around the home as long as honey remains to be robbed from the killed colony. Other scavenging insects, such as carpet beetles, are also attracted to killed bee colonies.

 

After a dead colony has been removed and the structural damage caused in removing the colony has been repaired, plug up all entrances through which other bee swarms can enter. Older homes which may have cracks in walls or under eaves are likely candidates for honeybee invasion. These holes should be plugged or screened prior to the time bees begin to swarm to prevent colony establishment. Odors left by the colony can linger for a long time and attract other swarming bees.

Insecticide For Honey Bees

Honey bees are an integral part of the ecosystem, but they can also be a nuisance to people who live in urban areas. In fact, some neighborhoods have had to pass laws to keep honey bees out of people’s yards and gardens because they’re a threat to human health.

If you’re having problems with honey bees, there are several insecticides available that can help you get rid of them. The first thing to consider is whether or not you want to kill off all of the honey bees in your area. If you do, then you should look for an insecticide with a broad spectrum that will kill off other insects as well as honey bees. If you want just want to get rid of the honey bee population without killing other species, then you should look for an insecticide that targets only those insects and not anything else in its path.

List Of Insecticide For Honey Bees