Are there more bees and wasps flying around your house than before? Maybe you're feeling a little scared and curious, "I wonder if there's even a hive somewhere?" It's not like the beautiful, honey-producing beehives we see in cartoons when we were kids, but the beehives we see in real life. They can be a little dangerous. So, don't be scared. Let's talk about everything in detail and simply today.
What exactly is a beehive?
Simply put, a beehive is a home for a colony of bees. Just like our homes, it is their home, their workplace, and their fortress of protection.
Bees build tiny cells made of wax inside the hive. They use these cells to care for larvae, collect nectar from flowers and make honey from pollen, and maintain the entire colony.
But bees aren't the only ones who build hives like this. Other animals, like wasps and hornets, also build nests that look similar to beehives. That's why it's very important for us to properly identify these animals.
How do you know who is here?
If you see a wasp in your garden, you can try to identify what animal it is by looking at these characteristics from a distance .
| Type of animal | Characteristics to recognize |
|---|---|
| Honey bees, Bumblebees | The honey is usually yellow-brown in color. The small cells in the honey are visible. The abdomen (back) of bees has a slightly fuzzy, or fuzzy, appearance. |
| Hornets, Wasps, Yellow jackets | The body looks like it is made of gray paper mache. The chambers of the body are not visible, they are completely closed. The abdomen of these animals is smooth and not wrinkled. |
The life of bees and their hives
The life cycle of bees varies depending on their species, the climate of the region, and the types of flowers they have to feed on.
- Honey bees: They are a year-round colony. Even in cold weather, the queen and worker bees stay together, feeding on the nectar in the hive and keeping warm. This means that if the environment is good, a beehive can remain in the same place for years . However, if there is a shortage of food and water, if there is disease, or if there is constant trouble, they will abandon the hive. During a very fertile season, there can be up to 100,000 bees in a single hive!
- Bumblebees: They usually only live in the spring and summer. When winter comes, the fertilized females go underground and hibernate. The males and workers stay in the hive and die with the cold. This means that a wasp hive usually only exists for one season.
Where can bee hives be grown?
Bees don't need a lot of space to build a hive. They prefer slightly dark, above-ground, and protected places. They like places like tree hollows. However, they can also build hives near our homes.
Be a little careful about places like these:
- Empty spaces inside the walls of the house
- Chimneys
- Outbuildings like garages and sheds
- Gaps in fences
- Well-grown bushes
- Water meter boxes, utility boxes
- Unused grills
- Places like under the verandah of the house
If you are a flower grower, have a place in your garden with clean water, and a quiet environment, you are more likely to attract bees.
Signs of a beehive
The first sign is when a few scouts in the bee colony gather around a suitable site for building a new hive and beat their wings rapidly. They then release a special chemical (a ``pheromone'') that signals other bees to come to the new home.
Then the entire colony flies to the new location in one go. If you are outside at the right time, you can even see this colony swarm flying.
If they build a hive in a place like inside a wall of your house, you may not notice it for a while. But if you hear a low humming sound coming from inside a wall , it could be a sign of a beehive.
Are bee stings dangerous? What to do in case of a bee sting?
A bee sting can be dangerous if you have an allergy to bee venom. Even if you don't have an allergy, it can be a very painful experience.
First aid for a common bite
When a bee stings, the stinger remains in our skin, which is where the venom enters the body.
1. Remove the stinger quickly: Remove the stinger by prying it out with a fingernail or something like an ATM card. If you hold it with pliers, more venom can enter the body. The faster you remove the stinger, the less venom will enter the body.
2. Wash with soap: Apply soap to the puncture site thoroughly and wash with water.
3. Apply ice: Apply an ice pack or a cold cloth for about 10-15 minutes to reduce swelling and pain.
These symptoms usually subside within a few hours. Sometimes, there may be pain and swelling for two to three days. In that case, you can take a painkiller or ask your doctor to apply a cream like ``hydrocortisone``.
When should you see a doctor immediately?
Some people can have a severe allergic reaction to bee venom. This is called ``Anaphylaxis''. This is a life-threatening emergency.
If you have any of these symptoms, go to the nearest hospital Emergency Department (ETU) immediately:
- Difficulty breathing, chest tightness
- Swelling of the tongue, throat, or face
- Dizziness , loss of consciousness
- Rapid heartbeat
- Rash or severe itching all over the body
- Vomiting or stomach pain
In the hospital, these people are given treatments such as `(epinephrine)`, `(antihistamines)`, `(albuterol)`, and oxygen.
Do beehives damage buildings?
Although it usually doesn't cause much damage, it can still be damaging. If a hive forms inside a wall, the bees can use water to soften things like sheetrock in the wall and enlarge the hive. This can cause water damage to the wall.
The important thing is, if you just remove the bees and leave the hive alone, the honey in it will start to ferment . This fermented honey can leak down the walls and cause serious damage to the walls.
How do you safely remove a beehive?
The first thing to remember is that bees are essential to our environment . They help us grow the fruits and vegetables we eat by pollinating flowers on trees and vines. So killing them is not the best thing to do.
Never attempt to remove or damage a beehive by yourself. It is very dangerous work.
The best thing to do is to seek professional help for this.
- Beekeepers: The best solution is to call an experienced beekeeper. They will remove the entire hive and relocate it to a suitable location without harming the bees.
- Pest Control: In some cases, if the bees are in a very dangerous area or if there is no other option, a pest control service may be required to remove them. But keep this as a last resort.
If you use pesticides to remove bees, all dead bees, honey and wax should be treated as hazardous waste . If they are released into the environment, they can cause further damage. If you need advice on the correct way to dispose of such waste, you can contact the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital for details.
After removing the hive, the area should be thoroughly cleaned and dried completely. If possible, fill the space with something like ``insulation`` and seal it. This will prevent the bees from coming back.
Take-Home Message
- Don't panic if you see bees or wasps around your home. First, look from a distance to confirm what kind of creature it is and whether there is a hive.
- Do not attempt to remove a beehive or throw rocks at it alone for any reason.
- If you get stung by a bee, quickly remove the stinger, wash it with soap and water, and apply ice.
- If you have severe allergy symptoms, such as difficulty breathing and facial swelling, go to a hospital's Emergency Department (ETU) immediately.
- If you need to remove a beehive, it is safest to seek the help of an experienced beekeeper or a professional pest control service.
- Remember that bees are environmentally friendly animals, so prioritize removing them without harming them.
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