Bee control

A bee infestation on your property is not only a nuisance but is also a threat to your staff and customers and has the potential to drive away business, tainting your hard-earned reputation. Bees are usually docile, but they have been known to swarm during certain times of the year and sting to fend off perceived threats to their nests.

Proper and safe bee removal requires a professional who knows the right techniques, can obey the local laws and statutes that govern bee removal, and the right equipment. Rentokil pest control specialists are trained to remove bees from your business and prevent them from returning.

If you think you have a bee problem on your property call Rentokil at 1-855-633-6260 or use the online contact form to set up an appointment.

How to get rid of bees

It is highly recommended that only professionals remove bee nests from your property. Due to the nature of bees and the potential for bee stings, only a trained bee control specialist will have the tools and training to remove bees safely and effectively.

Bee control specialists at Rentokil are trained and licensed to remove bees. Some bee species, such as honey bees, are protected and require special tools and techniques for removal with minimum impact to the environment. In those cases, we can work with local beekeeping collectives to help remove them.

If honey bees have created a honeycomb in the walls, this may require further treatments and help from a contractor to remove the wall so the honeycomb can be removed. If the comb is left behind, it is possible that the residual pheromones could attract other bees who would then rebuild a nest.

Learn more about honey bees and other stinging insects here.

The bee removal process

Rentokil specialists take all of the necessary precautions to protect you, your staff and customers, and the environment. They will be able to determine where the bees have set up their nest and offer advice on how to stop them from getting inside. Our process involves the following:

• Site inspection - First, we have to determine if the insects that you're seeing are bees, wasps or hornets. We will search the property, specifically the areas in which you have been seeing the insects. We will determine where the nest is and what kind of insects you have.

• Consultation - Once we determine that you do have a bee infestation, we will discuss the next steps with you. We'll go over the procedure and make sure that you understand what our technician will be doing and how you and your family can stay safe during the treatment process.

• Removal - Using protective gear and specialized tools, such as an extendable bee pole, we will remove the bees and the nests. We want to remove the entire hive so that the bees do not return to set up another nest.

• Treatment - Your Rentokil specialist, depending on where the nest was located, will also treat it using aerosol, dust or liquid treatment methods.

• Follow up - We will also follow up with you to determine that the bee infestation has been successfully removed and that a bee colony has not returned to the spot where the nest was.

Is your business experiencing a bee infestation? If you have seen a lot of bee activity near your building or believe there may be a bee nest around your property, we recommend calling Rentokil at 1-855-633-6260 or contacting us online to schedule a service visit.

How to prevent bees

Although bees will set up their hives almost anywhere and it can be difficult to stop them, there are things business owners can do to prevent bees from coming back.

Prevent bee infestations by:

• Removing debris from your property’s exterior including landscaping maintenance machines or anything that bees can use to create a hive.

• Make sure that any garbage cans are tightly secured with sealed lids. Bees like to fly around garbage looking for sweet things.

• If bees are getting inside, seal up holes and cracks in roofs, siding and windows. Look for holes in the siding and roof where bees could be building a nest inside the walls.

• Keep an eye out for bees and see if they are swarming somewhere on your property. Sometimes bees build nests underground, so observing their flight patterns can indicate whether or not a nest exists.

Types of bees

There are several types of bees that you might see around your property. They vary in size, color, shape and behavior. Most of them are docile, but will also defend their nests.

• Honey bees - One of the most common bees. They are slender, yellow and black. Honey bees will defend their nests, but they are also vital to the ecosystem. Removal of honey bees takes special care and licenses in some areas.

• Bumblebees - Large, hairy, bees that you often see flying around flowers. They build their nests underground and do not even have stingers. However, if threatened, they can bite.

• Carpenter bees - Look a lot like bumblebees, but they have smooth abdomens. These are solitary bees and they fly around to threaten, but rarely bite. Carpenter bees bore into wood to lay eggs, so they can do damage to wooden structures around your property. You will often see the bees themselves or the large oval-shaped holes they leave in wood.

• Africanized honey bees - Resemble honey bees except for their attitude. Africanized honey bees will attack any threat they perceive in force. They will also protect a much larger area than standard honey bees and will chase after threats for a longer time. They attack in huge numbers and literally try to sting to death any threat to their nests. If you run into Africanized honey bees, the best bet is to run quickly for shelter and get medical attention for stings.

The experts in bee control

Rentokil specialists have the right equipment, tools, protective clothing, training and experience to safely deal with any bee infestation. We also comply with all state and local laws that are designed to protect the honey bee population.

If you think you have a problem with bees, the first thing you need to do is call Rentokil at 1-855-633-6260 or use our online contact form to schedule an appointment.