Dealing With Wasp, Hornet, and Bee Infestations at Your Facility
There are countless old wives' tales that deal with handling wasp, hornet, and bee infestations, and for good reason -- humans have been living alongside these bugs pretty much forever. Buildings often provide an ideal haven for them, since people inadvertently create a perfect source of shelter and food. Unfortunately, few people actually want to share their working or living space with a nest full of stinging insects. How can facility managers deal with infestations of bees, hornets, or wasps?
1. Use an ounce of prevention.
To keep bees, wasps, and hornets from viewing your facility as a combination hotel and buffet, you need to think like a bug.
First, consider food sources.
This can be anything from landscaping plants to trash cans full of food waste. Wasps, in particular, are voracious and diverse eaters whose diets vary by life stage. When the nests are full of young larvae, wasps hunt for sources of protein to feed them. Adults chiefly consume sugary foods. (This need for protein means that some wasp species are actually beneficial for landscaping -- they provide natural pest control by preying on unwanted garden bugs!) Hornets are just large eusocial wasps, so their diets are similar. Bees look for sugary foods that mimic plant nectar. This means that your employees should empty trashcans regularly and promptly clean up spills. If you've had a bee infestation in the past, make sure to completely remove all traces of honey. The scent will attract bees back to the former nesting site.
Next, look for a means of entry.
Yellowjackets are infamous for making nests inside of hollow things, like the kind of metal tubing commonly used for safety railings. Look for any tiny holes, gaps, or cracks where hornets, bees, or wasps can sneak in, and seal them.
Finally, repel them.
Wasps are territorial, so some homes and facilities have luck using decoy nests to keep them at bay. Research also shows that painting the underside of overhangs, like porches and awnings, a shade of blue can keep wasps from nesting there. There are also stickers printed with a hexagonal pattern, like the cells of wasp's nests, which may discourage them from lingering in an area. Strongly scented deterrents, like moth balls, dryer sheets, or clove oil, can also help repel stinging insects without the use of potentially hazardous pesticides. It's best to avoid using pesticides whenever possible. Those that target hornets can also negatively impact native Long Island bee populations, which are already struggling due to agricultural pesticides and habitat loss.
2. Know how to spot a problem.
A single bee or wasp isn't really cause for concern. They cover a lot of distance in their search for food or territory, so you'll spot one occasionally scoping things out. The queens of some wasp species also sometimes overwinter inside buildings. These generally aren't an issue and likely won't even be noticed. Even then, their primary objective is to leave in spring and start a new nest, and they typically aren't aggressive. If you start seeing large numbers of wasps or hornets, or their distinctive paper or mud nests, it indicates a problem.
Long Island is home to yellowjackets, European paper wasps, mud daubers, cicada killers, European hornets, and bald-faced hornets, so familiarize yourself with their appearances and nests so you can identify them on sight. Honeybees and bumble bees may build their hives inside of trees or walls. You might notice buzzing or a droning sound, a honey smell, or bees coming and going through a crack or gap. Other bee species may nest in holes in the ground, or under piles of refuse.
3. Call in a pro.
Do not attempt to handle an infestation of wasps, hornets, or bees yourself. They require specialized equipment and knowledge. Simply keep people away from the infested area and contact a professional. They'll come out and deal with the problem for you, and give you tips to keep it from returning. Removing bees from a hive often isn't enough to stop an infestation. A single honeybee nest can contain upwards of a hundred pounds of honey, tens of thousands of bees, and a complex network of honeycomb. Bees fan their wings to regulate the temperature of their homes. Even if all of the bees are killed or removed, this lack of thermoregulation means that the wax and honey will start to melt and run. The smell from this will attract more bees, starting the problem all over again. It's important to remove not only the bees, but the honey, combs, and larvae.
If there's an apiarist (beekeeper) in your area, and you have a bee infestation, they may be willing to come to remove it. Apiarists have the proper equipment for handling bees and their honeycombs and are able to safely relocate the bees so the hive can thrive elsewhere. This is the best strategy for protecting people and sensitive bee populations at the same time. Bees, hornets, and wasps are fascinating creatures to observe from a distance. When they set up shop inside a facility, it causes problems for insects and people alike. The best course of action is to try to prevent an infestation whenever possible. If one happens anyway, never attempt to deal with it yourself. Professionals have the tools and knowledge to take care of the issue safely and effectively.
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