Stockport Pest Control Wasps Nests £32.00

Bees are very essential insects because worldwide, they provide pollination service which is very important to agriculture and biodiversity conservation.  Aside pollination, bees also provide hive products which are nutritious and medicinal such as honey, royal jelly, beebread, propolis, wax and many more.  Most people however perceive all bees to be stinging and dangerous. This is entirely not the case because there are some bees which are harmless and very friendly to the extent that they could be kept on porches, study rooms, etc.  These bees are known as Stingless Bees.

Stingless bees also known as Meliponines are a group of bees with non-functional stings.  They are tropical bees of African origin which have dispersed to other tropical and sub-tropical parts of the world.  There are about 500 species of stingless bees, and they are the only highly social bees aside the common honeybees (Apis mellifera L.).  Stingless bees usually live in permanent colonies that consist of the queen and the drone as the reproductives and hundreds or thousands of workers (depending on the species).

The colonies are found in all forms of nest with the most common being in tree cavities. A few species however build underground nests and some also build exposed nests surrounded by hard and brittle layers, hanging over tree branches in the air.  The bees use all forms of materials including resin, sand particles, excrement, etc in building their nests, which are waterproof and highly resistant to predators.

Even though stingless bees have non-functional stings, they have various and efficient means of defence within and without their nests.  Some species adopt aggressive ways of external defence like biting, releasing caustic mandibular secretions, unpleasant oduors and irritating by crawling into eyes and ears of intruders.  The most external tactic of defence of the bees is making their nests invisible.  Internally stingless bees use a substance known as propolis to embalm intruders.

Stingless bees and pollination

The transfer of pollen grains to the stigma of flowers thus pollination is very crucial for plant reproduction and therefore, seed and fruit production.  Plants depend on agents called pollinators to effect pollination.  Bees constitute the principal pollinators, ensuring the survival of many plant species including plants that provide food security to innumerable rural households.

Most species of stingless bees exhibit some characteristics that enhance their potential as pollinators.  The bees are polylectic or generalist flower visitors, visiting and adapting to a broad range of plant species.  They also demonstrate floral constancy whereby the workers visit only one plant species on a single trip.  Floral constancy is linked with pollinator efficiency because the collection and deposition of a mixture of pollen from two or more plant species tends to contaminate the stigma with the wrong pollen.

Meliponiculture (stingless beekeeping)

Transferring stingless bee colonies into artificial nests boosts the potential of the bees for crop pollination because the hives could be transported where and when needed for pollination.  Stingless bees were kept by man centuries ago but unlike Central and South America and parts of Asia, the practice did not evolve in Africa.  Currently in Africa, meliponiculture exists only in Tanzania and Angola on small to medium scale.  Stingless bee honey in Africa is mostly harvested destructively from feral colonies.

Stingless bee keeping has some advantages over honeybee keeping. For instance the colony could last permanently as long as no damaging disaster occurs, by replacing the old queen with a virgin queen.  Also stingless bee queens and workers generally tend to live longer that of the honeybees.  Aside the longevity of their colonies and castes, stingless bees have not yet been found to be affected by the disease and the Varroa mite problems that are plaguing the honeybee keeping industry.  In addition stingless bees do not sting making them the golden and friendliest bees of the world. The stingless attribute also makes them harmless to man and therefore easy to handle and manage. This means that stingless bees could be kept as close as possible to our homes, on the porches, backyard gardens, and study rooms etc as pets. Thus stingless bees are the only pets that provide additional benefits of pollination, honey and other hive products to enjoy.

Stingless bee hive products

The hive products of Stingless just as that of the common honeybees include honey, propolis, pollen (beebread) and wax.  The hive products, some of which have antioxidant, antimicrobial and antifungal properties have been used in the food and cosmetic industries as well as in medicine.  Stingless bee honey has a higher medicinal value than that of A. mellifera.  It is either taken in its pure form or as a component in both in traditional (including herbal extracts especially in Africa) or conventional medicines.

Threats to stingless bees

In recent times bee population densities are declining below points of sustaining pollination services in both agro and natural ecosystems.  This decline is as a result of habitat loss, land management practices, agricultural and industrial chemicals among others.  Most feral bees and for that matter stingless bees require safe and undisturbed habitats for nesting and foraging.  The elimination of these resources by lumber exploitation, clearing of natural vegetation, wild bushfires, land degradation, literally starve and kill the bees. 

Most pesticides and other chemicals used in agriculture also kill bees directly, decreasing their populations significantly.  Stingless bees are particularly affected by these threats especially in Africa where meliponiculture is virtually non-existent.  This is further exacerbated by the destructive harvesting of the stingless bee honey from the wild colonies.

There is the need for more research and education on stingless bees, their importance and the need for meliponiculture as means of conserving this very important resource; the stingless bees.

Afia Serwaa karikari is an Entomologist with expertise in stingless bees and meliponiculture. She is also a Research Scientist with the CSIR-SARI (Ghana)where she is into insect pest management.
Article Source

Good advice, says Fred Willey, A professional Phoenix Exterminator after he read and viewed the following stories about bee attacks around the Phoenix area.

Five emergency calls in five hours were enough to prompt fire officials here to put out word that bee season has arrived, and that it could be a busy one after a wet winter.

Bees swarm in the spring as groups break away from overcrowded colonies, often setting up hives in places that bring them in contact with people. That’s no small issue with aggressive Africanized honeybees established around Arizona.

This story and the following two stories are typical Calls that our Media has been reporting all year long here in Phoenix, said Fred, and Due to last year’s winter rains there have been a lot of flowers blooming this year from desert areas such as Cave Creek, to downtown Tempe and Mesa, and it’s been a busy season so far, Fred said.  When it rains a lot, there’s more pollen and nectar on the plants and that gives the bees a lot of food, which increases the number of swarms.  Unfortunately because of the bees had such a successful spring, it can be expected that this fall will be even worse as they prepare for winter time and swarm season is upon us again from here on until we reach the colder winter months.

It is so important that people do exactly what the Phoenix Fire department is saying, BEE Careful,  just read these stories, and you will understand why messing with bees is “Not a Do It Yourself Project” you should be attempting.

PHOENIX – An elderly man is in critical condition after being attacked by a swarm of bees Wednesday as he tried to use a vacuum to suck them up.

At about 6 p.m., the Phoenix Fire Department’s Emergency Medical Services said they responded to the scene of the attack near 32nd Street and Indian School Road.

Captain Dorian Jackson of the Phoenix Fire Department said the 85-year-old man tried to vacuum the entire hive in a tree outside his home.

Jackson said the victim suffered between 50 and 75 stings on his face alone.

When firefighters and medical personnel arrived at the scene, they tried to walk with the victim to get him away from the bees, but the bees continued to attack for two-city blocks, according to Dorian.

The victim was transported to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Dorian said it’s extremely important that when people come into contact with a hive on their property, they should contact a professional Phoenix Exterminator and not attempt to get rid of the hive themselves.

Firefighters used foam to extinguish the bees.

The attack was the second time Phoenix firefighters responded to a serious bee attack Wednesday.  An 81-year-old woman is also in critical condition after she was attacked by bees near 33rd Avenue and Cactus Road.

In Phoenix — Neighbors say 81-year-old Toni Parker, who was attacked by a swarm of angry bees Wednesday, is doing better and hopes to return home soon.

“She’s doing fine, she’s up and alert,” said Debbie Cameron, who called 911. “She’s got a broken leg close to the hip, and she wants to come home already.”

Cameron says she had just returned home when she got a phone message from Parker.

“She must have left her phone on, because all I could hear was this rustling and I knew something was wrong.”

Soon after, Cameron’s mother came in telling her that Parker was being attacked by bees.

Cameron’s mother, MaryLou Cameron, had rushed over but had been stung nearly 12 times trying to get close enough to help her friend.

“As I got closer, she had the blanket pulled back to see who was coming out and all she kept doing was calling ‘help! help!’ … she uncovered her face and there were bees all over her face,”  said Cameron.

Three police officers and another person were also stung in the attack.

Phoenix Fire Department spokesman Dorian Jackson said Parker was trapped on her back patio at 1 p.m. by the swarm of about 1,000 bees.

The home is near 33rd Avenue and Cactus Road.

In a call to 911, a Cameron told the dispatcher that “[Parker's] fallen and bees are attacking her in a swarm.”

“She couldn’t get away,” Cameron told ABC15. “She must’ve slipped and fell … she broke her leg up near her hip.”

Phoenix Fire Department spokesman Dorian Jackson said Parker was stung 300 times.

Three Phoenix police officers tried to help the woman by spraying the bees with fire extinguishers, but Jackson said that appeared to aggravate the bees further.

He said the officers were stung approximately 50 times each.

They were evaluated by paramedics at the scene and refused treatment, according to Jackson. He said one other person was also stung.

Firefighters closed off the street as they tried to locate the hive. Crews used foam to subdue the bees.

As you can read in these media stories, Africanized honeybees are dangerous to humans and pets because they respond aggressively and in large numbers to perceived threats, a trait that makes them far more dangerous than European honeybees.

The so-called killer bees arrived in southern Arizona in 1993 and since have been found in every county. They are descendants of a variety brought to Brazil from Africa in the 1950s by scientists looking for a better honey producer. The bees bred with the local honeybees and began spreading northward.

Africanized bee attacks can be fatal to people, especially the elderly and those who are allergic to bee stings. Dogs are vulnerable because they often are chained or enclosed by fences and can’t get away.

The bees don’t go out looking for trouble with people, but confrontations often occur when someone inadvertently disturbs a hive or decides to destroy the bees without professional help.

Those who are attacked should run away from the bees or get inside buildings, closing doors behind them. Diving into a pool doesn’t help; the bees will wait for a person to surface, and I always tell people “ They have more air than you do, and you can only hold your breath for so long and they will still be there waiting to sting you.”

The best protection is taking steps to avoid provoking bees, such as staying on hiking trails and not trying to take a closer look at a bee hive. Usually curiosity is the biggest cause of bee attack situations.  Don’t wear floral scented perfumes when hiking, and if you are attacked by bees – don’t panic, cover your face, protect your nose and mouth (bees are attracted to your breath and will usually try an sting you around those areas if possible which will cause your airways to swell shut and limit your ability to continue breathing) and run to a protected area such as inside your home, inside a car.  It’s better to be in the car with a few bees than out of the car with 50000 bees, just be careful to not put others in danger as well, as the bees will go after everyone around you.

Most importantly of all “Don’t wait to take care of a bee hive”  Hire a professional to do this work, as you have read, two individuals were put into almost life threatening situations, and our professional Phoenix firemen came to the rescue at potentially the same risk to themselves.  It is alarming to me, with the amount of risk that bees can be, how many times I have heard, “oh, yea they have been there for quite a while”.  The quicker we respond to a Hive the better, bees get more aggressive when they have a hive to protect, and the larger the hive the more bees there are, of course, however one thing we haven’t mentioned yet, is the honey!  With large hives, there is a lot of honey and potentially more damage to the structure to remove this hive, as well as the fact that any left over honey will attract other pests such as ants, cockroaches, more bees and  even beetles.  Oh and did I mention that if you leave the honey, there is a good chance it will melt, and flood your house with ooehy, gooey, honey, or did I tell you about the time when the honey got rotten and the whole house smelled like rotten “Honey”.  You get the picture.

Bees can pose a fatal threat just with their stings, Hire the premium bee nest removal phoenix service for affordable prices. They are experts in removing almost all kind of killer bees of Arizona.

Article Source

We tend to’ve all eaten honey, and many folks supplement our diets by eating beneficial bee byproducts like bee pollen. But, there are plenty of completely different species of bees; that ones build honey, and what do other kinds of bees do?

There are regarding twenty five,000 identified species of bees worldwide (about four,000 in the United States), all of that are classified underneath the superfamily Apoidea. These are divided into nine families, four of that are very small in terms of numbers of species.

We tend to are most acquainted with one family of bees, Apidae, which includes honey bees and bumblebees. Honey bees, after all, turn out honey; these are social bees that live in colonies of 50,000 to 60,000 workers, 300 drones, and usually a single queen. Honey bee colonies are terribly complex in terms of behavior and overall perform; these bees behave for the survival of the colony, and not for individual survival. There are 10 broad types of honey bee worldwide, and one hybrid selection, the Africanized bee, or “killer bee.” The European honey bee is most commonly kept by beekeepers, for the aim of harvesting honey and bee byproducts.

Bumblebees are also from the family Apidae, however bumblebee colonies are abundant smaller than those of honey bees, typically hosting solely some hundred employee bees. Like honey bees, bumblebees are wonderful pollinators of various flowers; their bodies are quite furry, trapping pollen simply as the bees move from flower to flower to eat. And bumblebees do after all build honey, similar in texture and style to honey from honey bees however greenish-golden in tint rather than the pure golden color of standard honey. Bumblebees build comparatively small quantities of honey — their colonies are therefore tiny — and it’s troublesome to harvest, thus bumblebee honey is sometimes not found on the market.

There are nonetheless a lot of members of the Apidae family, solitary rather than colonizing. Digger bees usually build their nests within the soil, rearing their young in soil tunnels; their bodies are bushy, and sometimes up to three centimeters long. Digger bees often nest in shut proximity to every other, giving the looks of a colony, however every female is acting independently, protecting and collecting pollen for her young. These bees are nonaggressive and will not sting unless they’re trapped in clothing. Carpenter bees, on the other hand, nest in previous wood; like digger bees, they are solitary, but usually nest in shut proximity to each other.

Leafcutter bees and mason bees are members of the Megachilidae family; they are solitary, with leafcutters creating nests in hollow plant stems and prepared-created holes in wood and mason bees nesting in old mortar and numerous crevices. With solitary bees, it is the female that mates and rears her young on her own; as with social bees, the males serve no purpose alternative than to mate with fertile females. Many of these solitary bees are increasingly being reared commercially for pollination purposes, particularly as honey bee populations around the world are dwindling for as nonetheless unexplained reasons.

Mining bees belong to the Andrenidae family; this family contains thousands of species around the world. Also solitary, mining bees excavate tunnels and cells underground in that to rear their young; their tunnels are typically visible as small mounds in the ground, resembling worm casts. A nest might consist of a main tunnel with five or six branches each containing an egg cell. Mining bees like sandy soil. They do not cause any injury to a garden, and should be welcomed as effective pollinators.

Bees of the Halictidae family are typically referred to as “sweat bees” as a result of they’re attracted by perspiration; females can give a minor sting if trapped. These bees nest in the bottom or in wood, and they are social, though their caste system differs from that of honey bees or bumblebees. And therefore the Colletidae family contains plasterer bees, therefore known as as a result of they sleek the walls of their nest cells with secretions that dry into a lining resembling cellophane. These are solitary bees, found largely in Australia and South America.

Four other bee families — Melittidae, Meganomiidae, Dasypodaidae, and Stenotritidae — are very little in variety of species; these rare bees are found in Africa or Australia.

Bees are abundant additional diverse in sort and behavior than would at initial appear. You’re presumably to encounter honey bees and bumblebees, but most all bees are effective pollinators, and as such a valuable link in our global ecosystem.

Robert Mccormack has been writing articles online for nearly 2 years now. Not only does this author specialize in Bee-Pollen-Health, Different Types of Bees. You can also check out his latest website about: Bee-Pollen-Health Different Types of Bees
Article Source

Wasps are a common summertime problem for homeowners throughout the country. Finding and removing their nests is usually best left to a professional pest control company for many reasons. Those with children or who are susceptible to allergic reactions must be especially cautious, as a wasp’s venom can cause serious, sometimes fatal, reactions. Additionally, many homeowners may be unable to effectively reach and remove wasp nests themselves.

The best way to prepare yourself and understand what you are dealing with is to first determine the type of wasp you’ve encountered. Wasps are classified as either solitary or social. If you come across a wasp that’s flying solo, and it does not head towards others or an evident nest, you are most likely seeing a solitary wasp. Solitary wasps generally won’t bother you or your family unless provoked; however, unlike solitary wasps, social wasps build nests and congregate in swarms. Once a nest is formed, these feisty pests will continue to return to that location and become territorial. This is when a homeowner’s problems start.

Most wasps prefer to build their bulbous nests in protected, shaded areas such as under eaves, porch roofs, decking, sheds and steps. Wasp nests are often hard to locate because wasps can easily maneuver into small spaces, burrow into the ground or construct their nests high into the canopy of trees. One of the easiest ways to locate a nest is to wait until dusk and observe the wasps’ flight pattern. This will often lead you to the area of their specific dwelling. If you do come across a nest, be sure to contact a professional pest control company. Years of experience enable pest management professionals to quickly and efficiently identify and remove any wasp nests they’ve located on your property.

Most pest management professionals will offer homeowners the option of chemical free wasp removal for foraging wasps that have become bothersome. The most common option used to naturally remove wasps is through the use of traps. Typically these contain a pesticide-free liquid that lure the wasps into the trap and are designed to make an escape improbable. Unlike homemade traps, professional traps are more successful because of their construction and placement. Made of high-quality materials with specially designed apertures, pest management professionals will strategically place these traps around your property where wasps habitually forage. These areas include outdoor bars, gardens, outside eating areas, near patios, and children’s play areas.

In addition to traps, pest management professionals may offer organic sprays as a removal option. Much like chemical pesticides, organic sprays are applied directly to wasp nests and work quickly to kill the wasps. Unlike chemical pesticides, however, organic sprays offer homeowners peace of mind in regards to the impact on their health, the soil, and overall environment.

Typically, the treated nest is left in its location after spraying. This ensures that returning wasps are also eradicated once they enter the nest. Additionally, wasps that return to find their home removed will typically build a new one.  By leaving the treated wasp nests in place, the pest management professional is applying an effective control measure for the future.

The hardest wasp nests to remove are those located within walls. If you hear concentrated and un-nerving buzzing sounds from within a wall, the best way to proceed is to immediately call a pest control company.  Serious damage can be done by wasps that form nests on the inside of walls. Do not make the mistake of trying to kill any you may see outside the wall. This will only result in the remaining wasps moving farther into the wall and adjoining woodwork. Another mistake people often make is using an aerosol spray in this situation. Spraying an aerosol through a hole and into the wall will eventually lead to the adult and larva wasps rotting once perished. Furthermore, extended moisture within the wall can lead to mold and fungus growth.

Removing wasp nests from your property is not something to be taken lightly. As with other flying insects, wasps are dangerous when provoked.  The safest and most effective way to remove them is by simply calling a professional pest control company. Pest management professionals have the expertise and experience needed to accurately assess the situation and take the appropriate steps in permanently remove any wasp nests found on your property.

About Modern Pest Services:Modern Pest Services is a family-owned and operated pest management company serving commercial and residential clients throughout New England since 1945. Modern employs integrated pest management (IPM) practices to provide fast and effective pest control solutions. Visit http://www.ModernPest.com/
Article Source

The leafcutter bee is a solitary bee which along with mason bees and carder bees belongs to the family Megachilidae.This family of bees is notable for the fact that their pollen carrying apparatus (called a scopa) is restricted to the under surface of the abdomen, rather than mostly or exclusively on the hind legs as in other bee families.The leafcutter bee takes its name from its method of nest-building.

As a solitary bee the leafcutter does not live in a colony like the honey or bumble bee.The female leafcutter is solely responsible for nest finding, building and the welfare of the next generation. However, it is not uncommon to find several in close proximity to one another. In fact in some parts of the world their territories can be quite extensive even covering several acres if the conditions are right. Leafcutter bees like mason bees, can cause damage to property depending upon their numbers and where they choose to build their nests.

Life cycle

If you see neat segments cut out of the leaves of your roses or other shrubs, leafcutter bees are the likely culprits. Using their mandables (mouthparts) they remove neat pieces of leaves or even flower petals in some instances, to construct and line their nests, overlapping the pieces collected to construct cigar-shaped cells in hollow spaces. Leafcutter bees will nest in a variety of places, in the ground, under stones, in cavities in wood and stone, plant stems, and in dead wood. As many as 12 pieces of leaves are used by the leafcutter bee to form each cell. Smaller circular pieces of leaves are used to seal the cells and there are usually 6 to 10 cells per nest.

Before sealing the cell the female leafcutter bee deposits a supply of pollen and nectar, then lays an egg on top, seals it up and goes on to build the next one. Each cell can take the bee around 6 to 8 hours in total to complete and seal off. Once she has sealed the last cell and has laid all her eggs the leafcutter bee has done her job and dies.

These bees are unusual in the insect world as each female leafcutter lays on average only about 15 eggs. Compare that with a queen honey bee who can lay 100′s of thousands of eggs in her lifetime.The young over-winter in their cells as mature larvae and emerge as adult leafcutter bees in late spring-early summer. The last egg laid is the first to hatch and these are usually males who then stay around on nearby flowers waiting for the females to emerge.

Pollination

Leaf cutter bees are considered to be very efficient pollinators and are being increasingly bred in the US and elsewhere as a substitute for failing honey bee colonies, in particular Megachile rotundata, the alfalfa leafcutter bee or lucerne leafcutter bee.This species was imported from Europe and has now been introduced into most major regions of the world, as it is an efficient pollinator of alfalfa, carrots and other vegetables.

Originally imported into North America to pollinate alfalfa, which honeybees avoid as the flowers need to be pried open to reach the pollen, these leafcutter bees have become widespread. The alfalfa leafcutter bee is now managed intensively in North America and has become a multi million dollar business. They are also widely used in Russia and New Zealand and Australia where alfalfa is known locally as Lucerne.

It has been calculated that one alfalfa leafcutter bee can do the pollination job of 20 honey bees. As unlike honey bees they do not collect pollen in baskets on their legs but collect it in hairs on their abdomens and are therefore more likely to spread it about as they move around.

Stings

Leafcutter bees as with other solitary bees tend not to be as aggressive as honey bees and to a lesser extent bumble bees. Both the male and females are more likely to use their mandables, however the female leafcutter does have a stinger but will only use it if squeezed or caught beneath clothing. The leafcutter bee`s sting is not as painful as a honey bee sting but is more like the bite of a mosquito in terms of pain level. Therefore unlike honey bees there is no necessity to wear bee suits when managing leafcutters.

Maggie Roberts is a professional writer and beekeeper, with a particular passion for sharing her knowledge of bees and their role in the natural world. If you would like more information, help to start beekeeping or just to learn more about bees, then see http://www.beekeepingbeesandhoney.com
Article Source