We love bees and all they do for the environment. They pollinate 75% of the plants on earth, are soil builders, and our favorite – they create honey. Bees are a crucial part of our ecosystem – when they are outside. There are over 1300 species of bees in Arizona, including Africanized Honey Bees/Killer Bees. If you find bees living inside your walls, identifying what kind they are can be very challenging.
Africanized honey bees are extremely aggressive and territorial. They are constantly on alert against threats to the hive. Just about anything can provoke them – movement, sound, vibrations, scent can all cause them to become aggressive. They look a lot like a regular honey bee, so it’s hard to tell from appearance if it’s a standard honey bee or their more aggressive cousins.
BEES CAUSE DAMAGE
When honey bees take up residence in your walls, the damage they cause can be significant. If they aren’t taken care of right away, they will build combs and produce honey inside your walls. The wax of the combs can melt during high temperatures and ooze through the walls. The honey attracts ants and other pests. If you simply kill the bees and leave the nest inside the wall, it can attract mice and other critters. They like the empty combs for their own nests.
ELIMINATING THE DANGER
The best solution is to have the hive entirely removed. In order to make this happen, a section of the wall may have to be removed to access the hive. If the hive has been established for a long time, the area it occupies could be very large. All bees, comb, wax and honey should be removed to prevent recolonization.
If you think you have bees nesting inside the walls of your home, it’s a good idea to call a professional. We will take care of the infestation and ensure you and your family are safe.