Bees live in colonies with the average hive holding about 50,000 bees. Hive members are divided into three groups. The queen, the workers and the drones. There is only one queen in a hive. She lays eggs to produce the next generation of bees and she guides the behavior of the other bees in the colony with the use of chemicals she produces. All the workers in the colony are females. Their job is to look for nectar and pollen from flowers and to build and protect the hive. They also circulate and clean the air by beating their wings. The workers are the ones you see buzzing around. All the drones are males and their job is to mate with a new queen. There can be up to several hundred living in each hive in the spring and summer. When colder temps arrive, they are kicked out of the hive. Most worker bees live for 5-6 weeks and the queen can live for up to five. Summer is the time she is the busiest. She can lay up to 2,500 eggs every day!
Are Bees Harmful to Humans?
Is a hive in your backyard dangerous? Discovering a beehive in your backyard can be unsettling. The only time it becomes dangerous is if you don’t understand the risks and follow the safety precautions that come when dealing with bees. Bees will sting when they feel threatened or they feel the hive is in danger. The best way to avoid getting stung is to stay away from beehives by one. Bees can also become aggressive when lawnmowers and weed eaters get too close to their hive. They will start to swarm and sting. Swarming bees mean you need to get shelter inside right away.
Why Do Bees Sting if They Die After?
Bees can only sting once because they have a barbed stinger that will remain with the victim after they are stung, but you can get stung by multiple bees. A bee likely does not know it will die after stinging thick skin as they can sting insects multiple times without losing its stinger. A bee sting will cause pain and swelling that will turn to itch. Do not squeeze or pull the stinger as this will cause more venom to be pushed into the wound. Remove a bee stinger by scraping it with a card or clean knife and then clean the area with soap and water or an antiseptic. If you have an allergy to bee venom and happen to get stung multiple times, it can be deadly. You need to get medical help right away if you have an allergy to bee venom and you get stung
Stinging Insect Pest Control & More in Austin, Round Rock, Leander, Pflugerville & Cedar Park, Texas
Most bees are happy to fly around, doing their job instead of trying to annoy you. Swatting at them and acting hysterical will only frighten and irritate them, causing them to sting. This can be dangerous. If you have a hive on your property and don’t want to risk the dangers associated with it, you can call the professionals at A-Tex Pest Management. We will perform an inspection and come up with a plan. Contact us today!