BEES and WASPS

Both are beneficial insects in our environment, BUT...

People and animals have died after being stung by insects, particularly European Honey Bees.

They have an abnormal reaction to the sting which is referred to as a hypersensitivity or an anaphylactic reaction. It is an allergic reaction and is characterised by one or more of the following: breathing difficulty, heart and circulatory collapse, generalized itching, swelling and skin redness.

It is not necessary to wait for a serious problem to develop before taking action in response to a threatening situation. In individuals who are systemically allergic or have shown evidence of increasing severity of reactions to bee or insect stings, they should always have some means of preventing or controlling a life-threatening reaction following a sting.

The necessary medications are available and should be carried at all times by such people. These medications are available on presciption from a Doctor. One that is available is called EpiPen, it is an auto injector for intramuscular injection of Adrenalin for the emergency treatment of anaphylactic reactions. It is designed as emergency supporting therapy only and is not a replacement or substitute for subsequent medical or hospital care.

A life-threatening allergy can develop in anyone at any time.

European Honey Bees, even though they are an introduced species to this country are probably the most efficient pollinators of flowers, which is essential generally to plant reproduction. Bees also provide us with honey which besides being a pure food produced by the bees and unique to the bees has many uses including medicines. Bees wax another product unique to the bees has many uses in pharmaceuticals, including creams and beauty products, beeswax candles.

European Wasps and Papernest Wasps are generally the two wasps found in urban areas which sting humans and our pets. When disturbed or agitated they will attack and sting repeatedly. The sting is probably more painful than a bees. They are however predatory on other insects and their larvae which attack our plants and trees and so are a valuable natural control of them.

Bees and wasps because of our temperate climate are active most of the year but during spring and summer European Honey Bees in particular breed large numbers of bees very quickly, usually at this time half of the bees of an established colony, which had probably been nesting in a tree hollow or wall cavity of a building, swarm out with the old queen to establish a new colony. They leave a new queen in the original colony. The swarms can number 5 to 10 thousand or more bees, this can become a hazardous occurrence particularly in populated areas.

The swarm will normally settle nearby in a cluster shaped like a football hanging from a tree or shrub, sometimes they will group on a wall or fence. Scout bees will then fly away and search for a suitable nesting site. When found they will return to the cluster of bees and guide them to the new nesting site. It is in this manner that bees reproduce colonies.

During these seasonal swarms large numbers of bees can fly around buildings looking for entry points into a suitable area to establish a nest. This to some people can be a horrifying experience causing panic and fear.

Such problems usually have to be dealt with urgently

Call Pestmaster 1800 000 490

Bees are not naturally aggressive and have to be provoked to sting, but provocation to a bee might be some normal behavior of yours with no intention to provoke the bees.

It might be that you walked across their flight path not realising they were there and the bees collided with you, this would provoke them to sting. Sometimes strong body odour, perfumes or deodorants can aggravate them to sting. When flying near you your normal reaction to ward them off by waving your arms at them will provoke them to sting.

WHAT TO DO?

Stand perfectly still and ignore the bees. If you can't do this then;

If outside - go inside

If the bees come inside the building through cracks and openings in the building - isolate them in that room by closing doors - seal the gaps with any material available, paper, cloth, foam rubber, sealants.

Bees are attracted to lights - turn on inside lights and they will fly to the light - pull back curtains or blinds to let daylight through and bees will fly to the daylight - being attracted to either light source they will usually fly around it and eventually collapse. When attracted to these areas they can also be sprayed with a suitable flying insect, insecticidal spray.

You may have to cover exhaust fans. Down lights in ceilings should not be turned on when bees are about because they get into a wall cavity, see light in the roof void and fly to it. They can then enter the room through the lights.

HELP is only a phone call away

Pestmaster 1800 000 490