Bee & Wasp Control

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Warm weather brings out the buzz! But while bees play a vital role in our ecosystem, their nests can become unwelcome guests around your home.

Bees start swarming approximately September through to November and sometime extend into December in Victoria.  As a bee colony grows, the hive becomes overcrowded.

 The existing queen lays eggs that will develop into new queens.

When the new queens are about to emerge, the old queen leaves the hive with a portion of the worker bees to form a new colony.

 Unfortunately, bees can set up camp in the wrong place for us. Common nesting spots around our homes for bees include eaves, wall cavities, decks, and even in the ground. Early detection is key! If you notice buzzing around a specific area, it's best to call in a professional for bee and wasp removal.

 Don't let unwanted activity disrupt your summer!

 The Queen Bee:

 The sole responsibility of reproduction falls on the queen bee.  She mates with multiple drones (male bees) from other hives during a single mating flight early in her life, storing enough sperm to fertilize eggs for her entire lifespan (which can be 2-3 years).

Egg Laying:

• The queen lays eggs in individual cells within the honeycomb.
• Fertilized eggs will develop into female worker bees, the backbone of the hive.
• Unfertilized eggs become male drones, whose sole purpose is to mate with virgin queens from other hives.

Development Stages:

All bee development goes through four stages:

1. Egg:  The queen lays eggs in specialized cells within the honeycomb. Eggs hatch after about 3 days.
    
2. Larva:  The newly hatched larvae are fed a mixture of royal jelly (a protein-rich secretion from worker bees) and pollen and nectar. The type and amount of food determines whether the larva becomes a worker bee or a drone. Worker bee larvae receive less royal jelly and develop for a shorter period (around 6 days).  Drone larvae are fed more royal jelly and take longer to develop (around 7 days).
    
3. Pupa:  Once the feeding stage is complete, the larvae spin a cocoon and enter the pupal stage. During this time, they undergo metamorphosis, transforming from a larva into an adult bee. This stage lasts about 12-14 days for worker bees and 15-16 days for drones.
    
4. Adult:  Finally, adult bees emerge from their cocoons. Worker bees will take on various tasks within the hive, while drones have the sole purpose of mating with a queen.  The lifespan of worker bees varies depending on the season, but they typically live for 6 weeks to 6 months. Drones only live for a few weeks after mating and are then expelled from the hive.
    

Interesting Tidbits:

• Worker bees can lay unfertilized eggs if the queen is absent or not healthy. However, these eggs will only develop into drones.
• In times of swarming (when a colony reproduces by splitting in two), multiple virgin queens may be raised. These new queens will battle each other, with the sole survivor becoming the new queen of the remaining colony.

Overall, the bee breeding cycle is a complex and well-coordinated process that ensures the survival and growth of the hive.

While wasps play a vital role in our ecosystem, their nests can become unwelcome guests around your home.

  Common bee nesting spots: eaves, walls, decks, ground. Early detection is key! For bee removal or suspected nests, call us. Don't let wasps disrupt your summer! We offer expert wasp nest removal and bee and wasp removal from eaves, walls, sheds, and accessible ground, prioritizing safety and the environment. 

  The European wasp, also known as the common wasp, has a breeding cycle focused on a single queen and worker production during the warm season, followed by reproduction and overwintering by new queens in the cooler months. Here's a breakdown of the key stages:

Spring: Nest Establishment and Worker Production

• Hibernation Ends: As spring arrives, fertilized queen wasps emerge from their overwintering sites (often under bark or in crevices).
• Nest Building: The queen selects a suitable location, like a hollow tree, wall cavity, or even under eaves, to build a new nest using chewed wood fibers mixed with saliva.
• Egg Laying: The queen lays the first batch of eggs in the newly built cells. These eggs will develop into worker wasps.
• Worker Emergence:  After about a month, the first generation of worker wasps hatches. These sterile females take over the tasks of caring for the brood, foraging for food (insects and sugary substances), and expanding the nest.
• Queen Focuses on Egg Laying: With the worker force established, the queen focuses solely on egg laying, ensuring a steady stream of offspring to grow the colony.

Summer: Colony Expansion

• Continuous Cycle: Throughout the summer, the cycle of egg laying, larval development, pupation, and adult emergence continues. The worker population grows significantly, allowing for further nest expansion and food collection.

Late Summer/Autumn: Shift to Reproduction

• Focus on New Queens and Males: As summer wanes and days shorten, the queen reduces laying worker eggs. Instead, she lays eggs that will develop into male wasps and new queens.
• Mating Flight:  When mature, new queens and male wasps take flight for mating. The males die shortly after mating, while the fertilized queens find suitable overwintering sites.

Winter: Dormancy and New Cycle

• Colony Decline: With the cold weather arriving, the worker population dwindles and eventually dies off. The old queen also perishes.
• New Queens Overwinter: Only the fertilized new queens survive the winter. They remain dormant in their sheltered locations, waiting for spring to arrive and begin the cycle anew.