Did you know that August 16th is National Honey Bee Day? That’s right an entire day dedicated to honey bees, and why shouldn’t they have their own day? They are a super important part of our ecosystem, that are responsible for pollinating hundreds of crops throughout the United States. At Action Pest, we want to inform you of all the benefits of honey bees, and why we should be protecting them; along with some good reasons why you want to provide them with plenty of space and remain cautious around them.
Honey bees are very social insects that live in large groups and work together collecting pollen and nectar. The act of collecting pollen and nectar not only benefits the bees but us as well by pollinating the fruits and vegetables that sustain us. The honey that the bees produce from the pollen and nectar is used to feed their young and queens over the colder fall and winter months. The honey is stored in honeycombs within their nest. Professional beekeepers will create artificial “hives” for honey bees to harvest the sweet honey for people to consume.
While honey bees are super important to our ecosystem and provide us with a food source, they are still a stinging insect and you should remain cautious around them. Honey bees are not a super aggressive species of stinging insect but will still defend themselves or their nest against threats. The venom from a honey bee sting will cause a red painful welt. In some, the reaction is much more serious and it can impact a person’s ability to breathe. A severe allergic reaction to a honey bee sting will require immediate medical attention.
Honey bees themselves are under threat from diseases, parasites, and urbanization and because of this, we must take steps to protect these beneficial insects. This means, if a nest is on your property, your first reaction should not be to destroy it. Without honey bees to spread pollen a large number of crops will not be able to grow which will impact us and people living throughout the rest of the world.
If a honey bee nest is on your property but the nest is located a distance away from your house, it is probably fine to leave it alone. If they have made their nest in your home or near the entrance of your home it is a good idea to get professional help to remove the nest from your property. This will not only protect yourself and your family from being stung but should keep the nest intact and allow it to be transferred to a new location.
With a beekeeper's help, everyone wins! You and your family are no longer at risk of being stung and the honey bees can keep doing their beneficial work! From all of us at Action Pest Control Happy National Honey Bee Day!