Bumblebee - Maheu&Maheu - Pest management

Bumblebee Wasps& Bumblebees

Elimination

It is better to avoid destroying the nest because bumblebees are very useful pollinators. Nevertheless, when they build a nest close to homes or in house walls it may be necessary to intervene. Start by finding the entrance to the nest, either in the ground or a hole in an outside wall.

Apply a light spray of Maheu&Maheu Insecticide Dust in the opening. It is important to avoid plugging the hole with powder or caulking because this prevents the bumblebees from leaving the nest, which may cause them to find their way into the house. Spray again every evening as long as you see bumblebees coming out of the nest. You can also place a Maheu&Maheu Universal Glue Trap near the entrance to the nest. The bumblebees will get stuck on the trap and the nest will be eliminated faster.

It is best to perform the operation at night (in total darkness), and it is a good idea to wear coveralls or thick clothing. A protective hat with netting and thick gloves provide even greater protection.

Place a flashlight on the ground pointing toward the nest, but stay out of the light beam. Escaping bumblebees will be attracted to the flashlight. If you are a little nervous, have some Maheu&Maheu Flying Insect Killer handy to protect you against any bumblebees that may decide to attack!

Actions

Work after the night falls
Apply insecticide dust to cracks insects get in through or on surfaces (avoid forming piles)
Put extra glue traps in places where insects land if the nest is hard to get at

Prevention

Seal off outside cracks and crevices where insects could get in and build nests in structural voids.

Description and development

Bumblebees belong to the Apidae family (the same family as bees—but bumblebees are not male bees!). There are approximately 20 species of bumblebees in Quebec. You can easily tell them apart from wasps by their stout body covered with yellow, black, orange, or white hairs. Bumblebees from the same colony can vary tremendously in size, but on average they measure between 15 mm to 25 mm long.

A colony lasts only one season. The workers die in the fall, but the queens survive the winter. In the spring the queens leave their overwintering sites and look for good places to found new colonies (abandoned mouse dens, holes in walls, etc.).

During the summer, the colony’s population grows to several hundred workers. When the colony becomes mature, the sexual forms appear and mate around mid-August to produce the new queens who will hibernate over winter. The males and workers then die, and the cycle continues.

Habits

Bumblebees are important pollinators. Since they lack a barbed stinger, they can sting more than once, but they are unaggressive insects that prefer to spend their time foraging. In contrast to domestic bees, the queen and the males take part in domestic chores like building the nest, feeding larvae, and defending the colony. Bumblebees can travel up to 2 km from the nest in search of nectar and pollen. They are also Formula 1 foragers, visiting up to 70 flowers a minute!

Tips

It is not recommended that people with insect sting allergies perform this task. Ask a friend or pest management specialist for help.

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