Bee Removal Services

Signs You Have A Bee Infestation

The first sign of a bee infestation on your property is usually the noise; listen for a constant buzzing that will grow louder as the hive grows in size. Another obvious sign is an increase in bee activity around your home or garden. As bees look for a place to call home, they will repeatedly return to the same areas before settling down and creating a nest. For example, you might notice multiple bees hovering around your fascias and guttering.

Small holes, including pipes or even cracks, can provide an entry point for a swarm. Therefore, we recommend taking a quick walk around your property to ensure you have no obvious holes that may act as an entry point for bees.

If you have noticed signs of bees on your property, then don’t panic – we are here to help. Contact your local bee removal technician today for advice or book a survey to discover the exact location of the nest.

Thinking of asking your home insurance provider to cover the cost of bee and bee nest removal? Think again! Read more in our article: Does Home Insurance Cover Bee Removal?

Types Of Bees In The UK

Generally, bees tend to be relatively peaceful and will usually avoid causing any problems. In small numbers, they can play an important role in the local ecosystem and are relatively harmless. However, once a swarm of bees have made their nest on your property, you should always avoid them.

If they feel threatened by your presence, bees will attack and do anything they can to defend their hive. This is why you need professionals like Pest-Tech, who have the correct equipment and protective clothing to carry out the delicate process of removing bees from your property.

It’s also important that you can identify bees and know about the different types there are living in the UK. There are over 200 species of bee in the UK, but, the two most common species are Honey Bees and Bumble Bees.

Bumblebees

Bumblebees are black, round and very fluffy in appearance; the stereotypical bee, if you were to imagine one. There are many different bumblebee species, including the Whitetail bumblebee, the Tree Bumblebee, and the Garden Bumblebee, all of which vary in size. There are, on average, 50 to 100 bumblebees in a colony, which is much lower than a typical Honey Bee colony.

With years of experience in removing bumblebee nests, you can’t even imagine some of the locations we’ve seen them nesting! The most common place to find a bumblebee nest in an urban environment is in the loft space, where they use the insulation to house their bee nest. Because bumblebees are crawlers, their nests can be up to 2 meters from the entrance point.

Other common places to find bumblebee nests include chimneys, bird boxes, wall cavities, and overflow pipes. While they like to nest in relatively obscure places, you will easily be able to identify a bumblebee infestation on your property. Male bumblebees will regularly circle the nest’s entrance in an attempt to attract the females inside.

Worried you may have bees nesting in your chimney? Read our helpful guide here for more information: How to Get Rid of Bees in a Chimney.

It’s important to note that bumblebees will attack if they feel provoked or threatened. If you see bees entering your property, it’s best to leave them to it and contact us immediately on 01622 296055. While a bee sting doesn’t sound like the end of the world, it can cause anaphylactic shocks, which can be life-threatening in some cases.

Check out this recent Bee removal job in Maidstone: https://posts.gle/qLdXMN

Honey Bees

Although similar to bumblebees in appearance and size, honey bees are usually much darker in colour and have a fluffy body made from fine hairs. Depending on the size of a nest, a small colony could have a couple of thousand bees, whereas a large nest can hold up to 50,000 bees!

Honey bees collect pollen which is visible on the bee’s hind legs as they return to the nest. Honey bees also collect nectar, which they store and turn into honey. They make and store a surplus of honey to use over the winter months. Problems occur when honey bees decide to swarm, as this is when they may choose to take up residence in your home or garden.

Honey bees will swarm when their colony has become too large for their existing nest. Scout bees are sent out in search of finding a suitable new home. When a swarm first arrives on your property, it will be disordered and very noticeable, with thousands of bees flying about in all directions. Eventually, the hive will settle down and cluster together fairly quickly before entering their new home.

Commercial Bee Removal Services 

Businesses are just as at risk of bee infestations as homes, and, unfortunately, they can have a severe impact on your trade. Bees can send customers away scared and ruin your hard-earned reputation.

Thankfully, if you’re suffering from a bee infestation or you’ve found a bee’s nest on your commercial property in Maidstone or surrounding areas of Kent, then we can help. We offer our expert commercial bee removal services to all industries.

We recently received a call from a restaurant owner whose outdoor seating area was plagued by bees. As a result, customers were choosing other establishments to take their business to, meaning these pesky bees significantly impacted their profits. After a survey, we carefully removed the entire hive and relocated them to the countryside, where they are doing well today.

Whether you see bees at your home or business premises, it’s important you work with professionals to remove bees and their hives fast. Call 01622 296055 to get support from your local bee removal specialists in Kent.

Bees vs Wasps

While you might think you have a bee problem, it could actually be a nearby wasp nest. Bees and wasps are often confused, so to help you clear your infestation, here are a few tips on telling the difference between the two pests.

Body Shape

Bees have a much rounder body shape compared to wasps. Wasps have a very distinctive ‘waist’ break in their abdomen, and their body is much longer.

Colour

While we tend to think of bees as being bright yellow and black, their colours are actually more muted. Wasps are the flying pests with a bright yellow colour that stands out against the black stripes.

Temperament

Generally, bees are relatively calm creatures who tend to stay out of your way unless provoked or under threat. Wasps, on the other hand, are incredibly vicious. Wasps are also much more likely to hover around humans than bees, especially if there’s food around.

Nests

A wasp’s nest looks nothing like a bee’s nest. Instead, wasp nests look like they’re made of paper and have distinctive grooves across the surface. They will begin very small and continue to grow in size until the queen moves on, which usually happens every year.

Think you could be suffering from a wasp infestation? We also offer professional wasp nest removal services in Maidstone, Kent. You can also find out more about the difference between bees and wasps by reading our guide: What Is The Difference Between Bees And Wasps? 

If you’re unsure which pest is causing you trouble, our friendly team will be more than happy to assist you in your diagnosis. In addition, we can arrange a survey to accurately identify your problem pest. Contact us today to ensure your property is protected from bees, wasps and other insect pests.

Local Bee Removals Near You

Bees aren’t a problem until you notice an excessive number in your vicinity, in which case you could end up with a health hazard on your hands. For domestic and commercial customers across Maidstone and Kent, Pest-Tech is here to offer expert pest control services, removing colonies of bees and their hives.

Discover our complete list of the areas we cover, or speak to a friendly member of the team on 01622 296055 to book a callout with your local technician. Pest-Tech technicians have successfully carried out hundreds of specialised bee removal services in Maidstone, so you can be confident that we can solve your bee problem in no time at all.

Our humane bee removal services are available across Maidstone and the surrounding areas of Kent for both domestic and commercial properties.