MILTON — Bees that swarm often go into brick houses’ weep holes, or planned, small openings that allow water to drain from the structure.
But what’s engineered to help save a house also can contribute to its destruction.
Bees may enter weep holes, build comb, lay eggs, have babies and store honey, according to local beekeeper Kathy Blankenship.
“If homeowners let this problem go, the more wax will be built and the bigger the hive will grow,” she said.
Either way, one of two things will have to happen: homeowners could call a beekeeper, or they may contact pest control.
Blankenship prefers the first option.
“A beekeeper can chisel just a few bricks out to collect it all if called early enough,” she said. “Let it go, and it takes longer and more brick needs to come out.”
Either way, killing the bees takes care of just one part of the problem, Blankenship said.
“The wax has to come out … even if bees are sprayed and dead, bees return to the familiar smell next year.”
Fortunately, there’s an option to prevent bee-related damage: it’s as simple as installing inserts in the weep holes.
“It is much easier to go around your lovely home and push in little pieces of screen into all weep holes, keeping bees out, and the house can still breathe,” Blankenship said.
As for beekeepers?
“There are plenty of us around,” Blankenship said. “Check the local beekeeper association sites for the county you live in and ask for referrals if need be.
“Thanks for not spraying our pollinators.”
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Home damage? Here’s the case for calling a beekeeper
