Feb 23, 2023 | Pest Control
Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) is a phenomenon that occurs when the majority of working bees in a colony disappear and leave behind the queen, and the rest of the colony. Hives cannot sustain without worker bees and the colony would eventually die. Fortunately, what was once thought to be a major long-term threat to bees, CCD has been reported to have dropped over the last few years.
Some of the best tell-tale signs of CCD are discovering a few dead bees around and near the colony and a lower population of a colony. Another is discovering the queen and young bees remaining with an abundance of honey and pollen reserves. Colony Collapse Disorder isn’t the only reason for a declining colony; here are some other reasons as to why a hive has died:
- Certain pesticides are harmful to bees. Most pesticides have labels that indicate if they are harmful to pollinators. You must always read instructions of a pesticide before usage.
- The bees starved to death. A true indication of this happening is if you discover bees inside their cells with their butt pointing out. This occurs mostly in the winter and a big reason is due to the weather being too cold or a beekeeper harvesting too much honey, which is why honey should be harvested in the springtime.
- The hive was impacted by a disease. Varroa mites can infiltrate a hive and spread many diseases that impact the health of the bees. Over time, if left untreated, the bees will begin to die. A telltale sign of a mite infestation is discovering a dead colony inside of a hive that’s full of honey.
The honeybee community understands how detrimental it is to discover a colony collapse no matter what the reasoning is. As a homeowner, there are some ways for you to get involved with helping the bees:
- Plant a bee garden that encourages pollination. They typically include bee-friendly plants like lavender, cosmos, bee balm, butterfly bushes, geraniums, marigolds, and so many other options.
- Support local beekeepers and organizations by purchasing honey, beeswax products like soap, lotions, and candles, and you could also donate your time to volunteering for local beekeeping societies.
- Creating a bee bath is a simple way to give back. Use a bird bath and place pebbles or rocks in shallow water to allow bees to take breaks and drink water.
If you discover a beehive on or around your property, be sure to reach out to your local certified honeybee removal company to ensure the safety of the hive and colony.
Feb 14, 2023 | Pest Control
Honeybees have a significant role within our environment, the food we eat, the flowers we plant, and so much more. They are extremely hardworking and support so much of the sustenance of life. There are many reasons why honeybees and their honey are so important to humans; find out why below!
They Pollinate Our Food
To look for pollen, honeybees will travel long distances. Through these trips, fertilization takes place between food crops. They do this by using the hairs on their bodies to carry large grains of pollen between plants, helping crops produce better. In the US alone, honeybees are known to pollinate more than 100 crops! Because of their pollination, we can enjoy foods like cucumbers, cherries, apples, limes, and lemons. These insects also pollinate our wild plants, helping provide food to a wide variety of insects, birds, and animals, and overall, playing a major component in our biodiversity.
The Importance of Their Honey
Honeybees carry nectar extracted from plants and taken back to their hive. They create honey by mixing this nectar with their saliva in a cell within their hive. Honey is known to provide immense benefits to humans and our health. It’s been found that honey can prevent cancer, heart disease, and diabetes, heal wounds, and fight bacteria! There are also several products made from honey that can support us overall. The most common products we often see come from honey, including bee pollen for health benefits and bee wax for skin care products, candles, and even furniture polish!
Caring for Honeybees
The importance of honeybees is significant to our environment and overall well-being. At Northwest, we are proud to offer our honeybee relocation and protection services to continue keeping honeybees active and alive! Our Certified Honeybee Keepers are trained to safely remove, relocate, and care for the honeybees that have found their home in yours! If you’re interested in Northwest’s Honeybee Relocation & Protection Service, call our team today for a free inspection!
Apr 19, 2022 | Pest Control
When you’re planning and planting your garden this year, every homeowner should consider adding some plants that attract honeybees to your yard. Allowing honeybees to enter your yard can help assist them with the very important job they have – pollinating. Honeybees alone can pollinate up to 80 percent of all flowering plants, including fruits and vegetables. It’s vital to give them the space they need to complete this task.
Honeybees have incredible ultraviolet vision. They are unable to see the color red but can see colors that are on the ultraviolet spectrum. They can also use odor cues to locate flowers nearby. Many flowers attract bees, including bee balm, echinacea, snapdragon, hostas, and evening primrose. Continue reading to discover which flowers you should plant in your garden next.
- Bee Balm: This fragrant foliage is also known as wild bergamot and will attract these little pollinators to your yard. Keep these planted in a sunny spot for spring and summer blooms.
- Marigold: These golden flowers are typically planted alongside food-producing plants to keep unwanted pests away, but they still attract honeybees to the area. This will help aid in the growth of your other plants.
- Mint: This is a great herb that any gardener should keep in their garden, but it is also a good attractant for honeybees. Don’t forget to place this herb in a pot by itself, as it is known to choke nearby plants.
- Pansy: These year-round flowering plants love the cool weather, so it’s best to plant them in early fall and spring. They are great for an added touch of color and keep the bees happy.
- Lavender: Bees love this fragrant plant and will make a beeline for it. Lavender also provides many other benefits for your health and can be used in many recipes.
- Sunflower: These flowers are best planted in the spring for summer blooms. They can be placed in the back of the garden or dispersed throughout, but they supply a great place for honeybees to work.
These are just a few of the flowers that attract honeybees to your garden to help elevate pollinating. Making sure honeybees have a place to work is important for all humans and the environment. Even planting just one of these plants in your yard is enough to assist the bees.
If you notice a bee colony is nearby and needs to be moved to a safer location, then reach out to your local pest control company that can provide a safe bee relocation.
Apr 12, 2022 | Pest Control
At Northwest, we know how important all bees are and we understand just how fragile their ecosystem truly is. Our Honeybee Relocation Program is designed to protect these important pollinators, while also protecting you and your family.
If you see an increase in bee activity near your home, contacting a local relocation service is the first step in protection. What happens during these relocations, though? Many important steps occur during the honeybee relocation process to ensure the safety of all bees. Keep reading to discover how this process works.
Inspecting & Locating
The very first step after contacting a bee relocation service is the inspection of the hive location. Our honeybee experts complete a home inspection to help identify the type of bee and determine how the hive is holding up. This inspection helps the team determine the best plan of action for the safest removal possible.
Honeybee Removal
After determining where the hive is located, the removal process begins. The team carefully removes the honeybees from their hive. After the bees have been removed, the team will then remove the hive. Depending on where the hive is located, our team decides which method is needed in the hive removal process.
Honeybee Relocation
The relocation process is the next step, and some say it’s the most important step in the whole process. Honeybees benefit from being relocated in many ways, including preventing further infestations, and it helps preserve plant reproduction. The bees that we help are relocated to a local beekeeper’s farm to continue pollination and honey production. Relocation is a way for their local honey to be enjoyed by the community, helping aid humans against seasonal allergies.
If you believe you have a honeybee hive on your property and it’s closer than you would like it to be, then reach out to your local bee relocation company and they will be able to assist you in the relocation of these beneficial insects.
