Have you you seen bees yet this season? Spring and summer are typically when bees appear in the Phoenix area. They’re attracted to all of our desert blooming plants and flowers, because these flowers provide the nectar that allows them to make honey. And, while honey is a good thing, you don’t really want bees flying around your home.

Fun fact: did you know bees are attracted to dark colors and that’s why bee suits are white?

One more fun fact, losing a stinger (like when they sting a person) will cause a bee to die.

This spring, many customers have contacted Alpha Pest Control about bees. Some of the most common places you’ll find them are voids, or openings, in and around your home or business. These little pests find any hole possible to set up camp. If you hear a buzzing in your wall, or if you see several bees around a tree or near your eaves, you probably have a swarm of bees around your home. Other great hiding places are irrigation boxes, backyard grills, block fences, under a shed, or even in an empty bucket.

Always rely on professionals to help eliminate bees at your property.  A pest control company like Alpha will treat for the bees and take away the hive, depending on where it is located . A vacant hive can attract other pests like ants, roaches, moths and rodents.

And, of course, the best way to prevent bee stings is to steer clear of a hive or a swarm of bees. Not only are bee stings painful, but some people are highly allergic and can end up in the hospital as a result.

However, bees usually only sting when they are threatened. So, if you are ever unlucky enough to come across a swarm of bees, like on a hiking trail, the worst thing to do is to swat at them and run. They will feel attacked when swatted and will become more prone to sting.

What about those big, black bees? Those are carpenter bees and they rarely sting. They just seem scary. Unlike other bees, carpenter bees are solitary and don’t live within a hive. They bore into wood, creating a tunnel to lay their eggs. Only females have a stinger, but they will only sting when agitated.

You may have heard people talking about Africanized bees and how they are more aggressive. Typically, most bees that you’ll encounter in Arizona are Africanized bees. They are most aggressive when their hive is located in a small space. Only having a limited entrance and exit brings out their territorial side.

Our best advice is to not try and take care of a bee problem on your own. Rely on a professional team like Alpha Pest Control in the Phoenix area to treat a bee problem at your home or business. And, if you notice bees have taken up residence in the water meter box outside of your house, please call the city where you live. The city is equipped to handle bee issues in that case, but if you’re in a rush, call us and we may be able to fix the problem before city staff can.

Don’t hesitate to call or text Alpha Pest Control at 480-968-0414 to find out how we can help.