How to Keep Bees Out of Your House After Winter Rain

Bee swarming season is on the horizon, and many communities will begin to notice increased bee activity as warmer weather returns. Rain can affect how bees behave, and can cause them to enter your home or place of business. This can cause a number of problems, especially if a hive is built within the structure.

Where do Bees Go When it Rains?

When you think about the size of the average honeybee, their bodies are about as big as a drop of rain. During anything other than a very light mist, raindrops act like tiny missiles. A direct hit by a raindrop could stun or even kill a honeybee. The bee might also be knocked to the ground, possibly into a puddle of water where drowning would be a real risk. As a result, bees will usually go into their hive and stay put during periods of rain.

Bee Activity After the Rain

Once the rain ceases, bees behave in a similar manner as young children who have been cooped up in the house all day. They are ready to get back out into the world and back to their jobs. Depending on the duration of the rain, they may also be thirsty. Beekeepers notice more activity from bees after rain, as do many homeowners.

How to Keep Bees Out of Your Home

One of the best ways to prevent bees from entering your home is to conduct a thorough inspection of the outside of the structure, keeping an eye out for any small openings that would allow insects to enter the home. It can be helpful to complete the inspection during the morning or early evening hours, when the temperature is not overly warm and bees are most active. By watching the activity of the bees, it is sometimes possible to determine their points of entry into the home.

Once the points of entry have been determined, the next step is to block those access points. Various materials can be used to close or cover holes, depending on the location of the opening and whether air circulation is important. Expanding insulation foam is a popular choice, as is screening materials in areas where airflow is important.

How Serious is the Problem?

If you are able to see pollen on the legs of bees that enter the home later in the day, this is a sign that a hive has been located within the structure. At that point, it is important to contact a Phoenix bee control company to address the matter. A hive that is left alone can grow very quickly, leading to an increasingly difficult situation. Once honey is present within the structure, more bees will be attracted to the area. Effective bee removal includes not only eliminating the bees, but also conducting the proper clean-up of the affected area to remove all traces of honey.