As the weather continues to stay nice and warm, we may be sharing our outdoor space with bees buzzing around for a little longer. Bees are winged insects found all over the world. There are more than 20,000 recorded bee species. The largest bee was reported to be 1 ½ inches long and some are as small as 0.079 inches in length. Bees can be brown with red, yellow or lustrous blue stripes.
Average Bee Lifespan
Some bees are solitary and some, like the honey bee and bumble bee are extremely social. Bee colonies are made up of three castes: the queen bee, infertile female worker bees and male drones. The queen will mate and lay eggs for her entire life. Honey bee queens can live up to five years but most will have a lifespan of two to three years. Male drones only live to fertilize the queen and will die soon after having fulfilled their task. The female worker bees play a multitude of tasks for the survival of the hive. Due to all this hard work, they only live for about six weeks.
Bee Pollination Process & Facts
All bees are hairy which is crucial for pollen collection. Flowers and vegetation will attract bees and there is no insect as important as the bee when it comes to pollination. Many of the female species of bees have rows of bristles on their hind legs that form a basket and will comb pollen grains into it during pollination. Only females are able to transfer pollen. Pollen contains protein and other nutrients to sustain them and is essential for survival.
Ways to Keep Bees Away from You & Your Home
Because bees are so important we should try keeping them away rather than killing them. Cucumber peels placed around window sills or in your garden will help deter them. Bees will also avoid the smell of peppermint, so consider planting peppermint plants around your home and garden. This is a win-win for you as it will keep the bees away and provide you with fresh peppermint. Try spreading cinnamon around on a daily basis for about a week to have an effect on keeping bees away. Add chopped garlic to water for a few days and set it up around your plants or places where humans frequent. Many times, bees like your skin more than your home. Try mixing a teaspoon of vanilla extract with water and apply it to your skin to keep them away. Finally, baby powder can be a good solution to keep bees at bay. Sprinkle it around the areas you deem necessary.
Bee Prevention & Control
Bees benefit the environment in many ways. However, it can be inconvenient and possibly dangerous to let a bee hive thrive near your home if you or a family member have a bee allergy. You should always make sure you identify the species living near your home as bees can be mistaken for wasps. Effective treatment will rely on proper identification. The only way to rid your home of bees is to remove the hive entirely. Removing a beehive takes the correct tools and strategy, so call Pied Piper Services today.