Bee pest control in Guelph is a topic to be approached delicately. Bees are beneficial insects that have a crucial role to play in the ecosystem. There are implications to the decline of the bee population beyond the possible loss of honey, though that is a valid concern as well.

Bees are the number-one pollinator of non-crop plants in the world. Pollination is the process by which plants reproduce. Without bees to pollinate them, those plants would disappear, which has dire implications for all the animal life that relies on them, including humans.

Admittedly, there are risks involved with a bee infestation in your home. Bees are not aggressive animals, but they can sting in self-defence. Some people have severe allergies to bee venom that can cause anaphylactic shock and possibly death. Nevertheless, the threats that humans pose to bees are far greater than vice versa, which is why residential pest control for bees should only be done by professionals and should protect the bees to the extent possible.

Why Bees Are in Trouble

Bees face many threats to their reproduction and population growth, but the three biggest threats are pesticide use, climate change, and habitat loss. All of these threats derive from human activity.

Pesticides are chemicals that farmers and gardeners use to kill harmful insect pests on crops. Unfortunately, pesticides do not discriminate between insect species. As a result, they can kill helpful insects, including bees, alongside harmful pests.

Even when exposure to pesticides does not kill bees, it can still harm them. For example, it can affect their fertility, preventing them from reproducing. One particular chemical causes a 75% decrease in bees’ fertility. Exposure to pesticides can also impair bees’ memory and learning skills. This means that not only can worker bees not find food for themselves, but they also cannot feed the rest of the colony.

Climate change results from the burning of fossil fuels and the emission of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Carbon emissions trap heat from the sun next to the earth. This results in steadily rising temperatures and pattern shifts in precipitation, all of which have a negative effect on bees.

Climate change also results in shrinking bee habitats. Deforestation is another factor contributing to bee habitat loss. All of these factors combine to make it harder for bees to find food and build nests. Without food and shelter, bees cannot reproduce, and their populations take massive, unsustainable hits from year to year.

How You Can Help Bees

Declining bee populations may seem like a huge problem, and it is, but there are little things you can do to help. For example, stop using pesticides in your yard, or at least consider reducing their use. There are organic options available that kill insect pests without harming bees.

A pollinator garden is one that contains nectar-rich flowers, preferably native species, to provide food to bees and other beneficial insects. If you don’t already have a flower garden, consider planting flowers to feed pollinators. If you do already have a flower garden, consider planting more native plants in support of pollinators. Native plants are preferable because they are already adapted to the climate and the local soil conditions. As a result, they need less fertilizer and less water, which also means less maintenance to do.

Try to reduce your carbon footprint by recycling more, driving your car less, and adjusting your thermostat to be higher in summer and lower in winter. Consider purchasing only from companies that practice sustainability.

If you do have a problem with bees or wasps on your property, call Truly Nolen in Guelph for residential pest control. The first thing we do is to identify the pest you are dealing with. We then work with you to formulate a plan of action. Whenever possible, we look for alternatives to killing bees and only do so when absolutely necessary.