While bees can benefit the environment in lots of ways, it is inconvenient and possibly dangerous to let a bee hive thrive near your home.

It is very important to properly identify the particular species living near your home, as bees are often mistaken for wasps due to their similar physical characteristics. There are different elimination processes for wasps and bees, so effective treatment relies upon right identification. When using any method of bee control, it is also essential to know effective application strategies, as well as the limitations and dangers associated with each method. In a lot of regions, special licenses are required to treat infestations.

The only one way to rid your home of bees is to remove the hive entirely. This precarious task requires the proper tools and strategy. For safety and efficiency purposes, a pest control expert must be consulted before any bee control technique is attempted.

The life cycle begins when an established colony’s queen begins laying eggs within individual cells within a honeycomb.

Queens store more than four million sperm cells inside their bodies, enabling them to lay eggs throughout their life after only one mating flight. When the eggs hatch, those that were fertilized become female worker bees, while the unfertilized eggs become drones, or male bees. It is the responsibility of the queen to lay sufficient fertilized eggs to produce a well-developed force of worker bees for the colony.

Bees have four stages: eggs, larvae, pupae and adults. Bee eggs measure around one millimeter long. Queen bees examine their eggs before placing them side by side at the middle of the comb frame, with pollen surrounding them. Queens can lay up to two thousand eggs each day throughout the spring. As queens age, the number of eggs they lays considerably diminishes. They may also no longer be able to place the eggs intimately together, resulting in a patchy comb.

After three days, the eggs hatch into larvae, with no eyes, wings, legs or antennae. Inside the hives, certain bees are responsible for feeding the larvae with a mixture of pollen and honey. Around six days after hatching as larvae, they reach the third stage, spin cocoons and finally hatch into adult bees after another seven to 10 days. Similar to ants, newly hatched bees have different designated responsibilities until they grow old.

In North America, there are over 22 species of paper wasps. Worldwide, there are over 1,000 species, dispersed throughout Europe, Australia, Asia and South America. These paper wasps measure approximately one inch in length. Their narrow bodies are most generally dark brown in color, with black wings and yellow markings. Australian wasps are made distinguishable by their black and reddish-brown coloration. They appear alike to yellow jackets.

These insects are known as paper wasps due to the construction of their nests. Paper wasp nests are made from very small wood or plant fibers combined with saliva and appear to be made from paper. Their nests contain numerous compartments within which wasps lay their eggs and rear their young. These nests are often found in sheltered areas, such as tree branches and the eaves of houses.

A female wasp first establishes the nests. Every nest is comprised of compartments, which house wasp eggs until they mature into adults. Paper wasps feed on nectar and pollen, though they also scavenge for caterpillars with which to nourish their colonies’ larvae. As larvae develop into the adults, they assist in expanding the nest and nurturing future generations.

Paper wasps are considered beneficial because they assist in the pollination by feeding on nectar and they control pest insect populations by feeding them to their larvae. However, despite their ecological benefits, wasp nests should not be permitted to develop in or near the home. Stings from paper wasps are tremendously painful and may produce allergic reactions.

Removing the paper wasp nest may be dangerous. It is advised that a pest control professional be contacted to assist in the treatment of paper wasp infestations.

Paper wasps prefer to build their nests in locations that are safe from wind, rain, animals and other threats to their larvae and colonies. Human homes are the prime locations. Wasps normally enter homes through small cracks and holes in a building’s eaves or around windows. Garages and storage sheds are also the favorite locations for paper wasps to build nests.

To prevent paper wasps from entering your home, keep doors and windows closed or screened. Repair any big openings in the exterior of your home and be sure to inspect the eaves for possible points of entry. Keep the garage and storage shed doors closed when they are not being used. If a wasp nest is located within your home, contact a pest control professional without delay to assist you in eradicating the colony.