Why Are Bees So Aggressive This Time of Year?

Its the end of summer, early fall, and you notice that the bees around your home seem to be really active and aggressive. Sound familiar? It should because you are right. The same bees, wasps, and yellow jackets that you’ve seen peacefully pollinating your flowers all summer are now a liability to sting someone. Late summer and early fall, bees, wasps, and yellow jacket populations undergo many changes that cause them to become aggressive. Its important for homeowners to understand these cycles so they can stay safe and avoid bee stings this fall.

Understanding Bee Behavior in the Fall

There are a couple reasons why bees, wasps, and yellow jackets become aggressive in late summer and early fall:

• By late summer/early fall, their populations are at their max after growing all summer. So there are simply more of these pests around.
• They are working hard to protect the queen for the winter and are very protective of their hives.
• Food availability is on the decline and they are hungry. As the season changes the amount of food available, flowers and insects, is on the decline so there is not enough food to go around. This forces the bees, wasps, yellow jackets to search for alternative food sources like your food and drinks. This is why you may notice they are way more interested in your food in the fall.

Avoiding Bee Stings

No one wants to get a stung, it hurts, and can be life threatening if someone is allergic. Below are some best practices to avoid bee stings in the fall:

• Avoid wearing bright colors or floral - scented products that may attract bees
• Keep food and drinks covered when dining outside to prevent attracting bees
• Stay away from areas with high bee activity, such as flowering plants or beehives. If a bee “bumps” into you that likely means you are close to a hive and should leave the area.
• Do not swat at bees or make sudden movements that may provoke them. lot of people think they should kill the bee to get rid of it. But when a bee dies, it releases the same chemical it would if it were to sting someone, and that chemical will attract MORE BEES. So its best just to leave the bee alone in the first place.

What to Do If You Get Stung by a Bee

If you or a loved one does get stung, here are some Share steps to take if you or someone else gets stung by a bee:

• Remove the stinger promptly using a scraping motion (avoid squeezing). This will minimize the chemical release and the pain level it causes.
• Cleanse the area with soap and water, then apply a cold compress to reduce swelling.
• Baking soda paste (baking soda + water), vinegar, and toothpaste can be applied to the sting to alleviate pain.
• If someone is allergic, administer an EIPEN immediately and call 911.

Professional Bee Removal Services in The Fall

Bee stings are painful and can be life threatening if someone is allergic. That is why it is best to never approach a nest or hive and to hire a bee removal professional to safely and effectively remove the nest. If you deal with persistent bee problems at your property, then being on a preventative pest control plan that protects against bees is the best solution. The professionals at Environmental Pest Control have the proper safety equipment and chemicals to safely remove bee hives, wasp/yellow jacket nests, and hornet nests. We understand the concern these stinging insects can cause to loved ones which is why we offer fast turnaround times. In all situations we can come remove your bee nest within 48 hours, and if you call before lunchtime, in most situations we can solve your problem by the end of the day! Call Environmental today to protect your home from bees, hornets, wasps, and yellow jackets this fall.