Thank you for not to wanting to kill the bees as we are all doing our best to keep the worlds bee population high. In 2011 the law changed and killing bees is illegal in South Africa. Although it is necessary to remove troublesome swarms as they can be dangerous, there is no need to kill them.  Tackling bees using your own methods can be dangerous as bees will retaliate if they are threatened. Calling a bee removal expert is the best way to handle the situation. Aside from having experience in removing bees, the bee removal experts will also have the right equipment and protective gear, along with the knowledge on how to rehabilitate the colony in a safe environment.

Sometimes a hive splits, a new queen is born and half the colony leaves the hive with the old queen to seek a new home. Scouts are sent out to look for a suitable spot to build a new hive. These scouts have investigated and found that the spot on your property they chose is peaceful and safe, there may even have been a colony of bees in that very same place before and the scouts picked up on the scent. The bees and comb need to be removed and the environment made not to be suitable for bees in the future to ensure they do not select the same location again.

Blocking up the hole will prevent access for a few days, but the bees can chew their way out, depending on the type of material used to block the hole. There also may be more than one entrance so blocking one of them may have no impact. If the bees are established, they may survive inside the space for a number of months, eating their store of honey. Having the bees completely trapped in the wall may also draw predators such as rats, and you may find that there is an accompanying odour as the bees die off while trapped. To assess if the bees have settled the most common sign is the little pockets on the bees legs. If these are yellow with pollen that is being carried in, the bees have probably decided to stay and are building their hive.

A swarm of bees can mean different things. It may be an indication of scouts or a swarm that just moved in, and is looking for a place to build. Chances are you want to be able to tell the difference. Call us at 083 651 0195 will send out one of our professionals to safely remove the swarm and relocate them.

When bees are removed, it is essential to remove all traces of wax and honey. The scent of honey may attract bees but it may also attract other pests so cleaning the area thoroughly is the best thing to do. Should you find any holes that were used by the bees it is best to fill them in as soon as the bees have been successfully removed. Be sure to fill in all the holes and spaces where the bees were with something like caulking or expanding foam, the latter in particular will discourage infestation as it restricts moving space in the cavity.

Yes, bees can cause damage. Bees can make honey in structures that can seep through walls, ceilings, light fittings etc. This can cause mould, rotting, smells, and attract other insect and rodents that might become a bigger problem in the future. It is better to take care of the problem before it becomes a bigger issue. Call us as soon as you are aware of the bees, the longer you leave it the more challenging the removal will become.

You can’t really prevent bees from creating a hive on your property. Bees only need the smallest opening to enter a structure, and those hives can expand to the entire inside of the walls and cavities. As soon as you suspect that you have a problem you should call an expert to avoid the problem from getting bigger.