So uh, what's all the buzz about?
Bees. A necessary component of nature without which life would be quite dismal. But does that mean we are pleased to entertain them within our homes? I think not. So, if the buzz has got you down; read on for the cure!
I like honey. It's sooooo good. But bees can be a problem around our homes at times. I can recall many years ago when I looked through my window to the front yard and was greeted by the sight of literally thousands of bees. It was a black cloud! Naturally, it was a Sunday and I could not get a hold of anyone to address the problem. So me and my family stayed inside that day while the swarm calmed down and found a place to call home for the night. That was a tree branch in my front yard. I came home the next afternoon to find them gone.
This is the usual pattern of bee swarms. I tell those who call me about bees to wait at least 1-2 days before taking action against the swarm. By that time those bees are usually gone and all is well again. But how does all this occur in the first place? To make it simple, a bee colony can become overcrowded and split off, resulting in a swarm which sets off in search of a new home. In some cases, it can be a result of development which prompts a bee colony to relocate.
Let's talk quickly about Africanized Honey Bees (AHB) for a moment. Unless you know what to look for, you are not going to be able to tell the difference between AHB and European Honey Bees (EHB). At the AHB courses I have taken over the years, the wrap-up has consisted of this: Run hard, Run long and Run Far. Of course, I'm oversimplifying a complex subject but the bottom line is AHB are simply more aggressive and attack in greater numbers than EHB. This is what makes them so dangerous.
We need bees. We want them to do what they do in nature. But we don't want them in our homes, or even near them. In every situation where there has been a bee infestation within the structure, if appropriate action is not taken there will be a re-infestation of some magnitude. It's important to not only get the bees out of the structure, but to remove the honeycomb and don't leave any residue behind. Scrape all those surfaces and seal them so that the pheromone cannot act as an attractant for the next swarm of bees going through the neighborhood.
Seal or screen any entry point which might allow bees into your structures. If they can't get in, they can't set up shop.
Crazy Weather
Temperature extremes really do bring out the pests. If you haven't already done so, take the time to go around your home and seal cracks and crevices around windows, doors and utility penetrations. Pest proofing your home goes a long way toward prepping your home for the hot summer months ahead. Today I saw literally thousands of what appeared to be False Cinch Bugs at a local residence, no doubt due to the weather and the lack of landscaping in this particular area. Click here for more information about False Cinch Bugs.
Start thinking about Ants!
So what are doing to get ready for summer? Do you have ants crawling around your house now? Imagine what it will be like when the weather gets warmer. I recommend taking a survey of your house and property and see what can be done to avoid infestation.
Update: Rodent Control Quick Tips
UPDATE: The holidays are just around the corner and that is usually when we start decorating. Why not take the time to look at all the attic vents in the eave area of your home while you're putting up Christmas lights? If you see an open vent, screen that opening and keep those pesky rodents out!
Intelligent Pest Management?
Rain! We should be getting a lot of it soon. What does rain mean to me in general? No outdoor treatments. Why? Well, for one thing it can lead to pesticide runoff, and eventually waterways become contaminated by pesticides. Think parts per trillion. A visual picture of this is the following example courtesy of Dr. Oki @ UC Davis, "The water of Lake Mead is roughly 28,500,000 acre feet. One part per trillion (1 ppt) of Lake Mead is 9.2 gallons, or roughly two 5 gallon pails of water." So while pesticide runoff from your property may be little or none, consider the runoff potential for thousands of homes in Riverside County and you get the picture.
I can't think of an approach that's more "green" for our environment then careful and precise pesticide application. Intelligent Pest Control indeed!