Sep032011

Beware Of Bees And Wasps – They Are Here

Most people wisely give bees and wasps a wide berth whenever they see them.  You will not encounter many of them during the early part of spring.  However, they will be out in full force during late summer into the beginning of fall.

The pain caused by a bee or wasp sting is quite sharp, so you will know when you have been stung.  The affected area will also turn red and likely swell up.  Bees will leave their stinger embedded in your skin, so you will need to pull it out.

Wasps do not leave their stinger behind, so you do not need to worry about doing that if stung by one.  However, this also means they are capable of stinging you multiple times, so you would definitely need to get out of the area as soon as possible.

Some people are allergic to insect venom.  They may develop a severe allergic reaction known as anaphylactic shock.  This causes breathing difficulty, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, hives, and convulsions.  If left untreated, it can easily be fatal.

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Whether you are allergic to their venom or not, you will want to beware of both bees and wasps.  Usually, they will leave you alone as long as you leave them alone.  Sometimes though, they will be attracted to you for some reason.

One of the most common reasons is because you are eating or drinking something they want.  As summer progresses into fall, their food source becomes scarce.  So, they will look for sweets in the form of drinks and food.  Therefore, you will need to keep them covered whenever you are eating outside.

You should also make sure the lid on your garbage can is sealed tightly.  Bees and wasps may also be attracted to you because of the way you smell.  It is best for you to not wear any perfume while outside, since they may come looking for you.

The type of clothes you are wearing will also be a factor.  Bees and wasps are attracted to bright colors.  If you know you will be outside for a long period of time, you may not want to wear brightly colored clothing.

As long as you stay out of their territory, bees and wasps usually will not bother you.  Whatever you do, never approach their hive or nesting site.  Their quite defensive when an intruder approaches their home and you may get swarmed if you do.  If one is bothersome to you, you may want to call a professional to come handle the problem.

Looking for a Pest Control / Exterminating Service in Portland and surrounding areas? Columbia Pest Control, Inc. at www.columbiapestcontrol.com provides environmentally safe bee safe pest control services.
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Aug312011

Bees and Wasps: Danger Can Be Lurking Underground

A woman mowing her grass was killed when she mowed over an underground wasp nest. A gardener lost consciousness from multiple stings when weed pulling disturbed an underground bee nest. Another person suffered permanent scars from vicious hornet stings while cleaning up discarded lumber that hid a nest. Because they are most often seen flying through the air, most people don’t look down when they hear buzzing insects; but a large number of bee and wasp species build their nests underground or under debris lying on the ground.

Like the three real-life examples above taken from GardenWeb.com, Internet gardening forums are peppered with reports of bees, wasps and hornets attacking viciously from underground nests. Quite a few bee and wasp species build their nests underground and several species, taking advantage of the shelter provided by ground surface debris, build their nests under stray boards, loose slabs of rock or in wood piles. Underground bees have even been known to build nests in undisturbed compost piles.

There are several solitary species of bees and wasps, those that live singly, that nest underfoot. Mud daubers and potter wasps build their single-celled, ground-level nests in wet areas near ponds, poorly drained yards or near dripping outdoor faucets. Digger bees, digger wasps and cicada killer wasps dig single burrows several inches deep into dry or sandy ground. Mammoth 2-inch long cicada killers have a particular affinity for nesting in sand traps which can make them a problem on golf courses. Several solitary bee species, including cicada killers and halictid (sweat) bees nest in groups, locating their individual burrows close together. However, solitary bee and wasp species are relatively docile and not particularly defensive of their nests. They pose only a limited problem to humans, rarely stinging unless stepped on; but their habit of nesting near areas occupied by humans can create occasional problems for gardeners, landscape workers, golfers or barefoot children.

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The real threat from underground bees, wasps and hornets (a type of wasp) comes from species that live socially in colonies that can number in the hundreds. Opportunistic insects, social bees and wasps often colonize abandoned animal burrows but will also tunnel into the ground, excavating multiple passages to house the colony and hold the queen’s eggs and developing larvae. Some ground bees such as bumble bees are fairly docile, attacking only when disturbed or threatened. Other ground-dwellers, particularly yellowjackets (a species of wasp) are highly aggressive and may attack without warning. Yellowjackets are so sensitive to noise and vibration that a running lawn mower can trigger an attack.

The sight of attacking ground bees or wasps is frightening. They shoot out of the narrow entrance to their underground nest like a stream of machine gun bullets, attacking and stinging immediately. Releasing pheromones that incite their nest mates to frenzied attack, they will try to swarm over their foe and can be relentless in their pursuit. While many humans can outrun bees and wasps, which have a 6- to 7-mile-per-hour flight speed; the speed of ground bee attacks takes most victims by surprise, causing panic that can hinder their escape to safety. Few people survive a ground bee or wasp attack without suffering multiple stings, particularly in late summer when colonies have reached maturity and stinging insects are at their most aggressive.

Ground bees and wasps pose a considerable threat to humans because they frequently build their nests in areas shared by humans – lawns, gardens, parks and golf courses –and because their nests usually go undetected until they are disturbed and the insects have launched their attack. The slight domes or narrow openings that mark the entrances to underground bee and wasp nests are often hidden by lawn or garden vegetation. The shallow depressions caused by excavated nests can easily be mistaken for natural low spots in a lawn. Nests built under ground debris remain invisible until the debris is removed. When underground bee and wasp nests are discovered it is usually by observation of heavy bee traffic in a specific area. Bees or wasps consistently seen hovering over a patch of lawn or garden generally indicate the entrance to an underground nest. Careful observation from a safe distance will reveal insects entering and exiting an opening in the ground. Heavy bee traffic to and from a piece of debris or woodpile and the sight of insects milling around the area are a good indication that wasps or hornets have built a nest under the debris and into the ground.

The internet offers a number of “home cures” for the elimination of ground bees and wasps. Most of these do-it-yourself pest control techniques are of questionable effectiveness, can be detrimental to landscape plantings, and carry a high element of risk to the home owner’s health and safety. Seldom does a home owner escape without multiple stings when trying to eliminate an underground bee or wasp nest. Until a nest is eliminated and dug up, there is no way to know how large the colony is or how many exit holes the nest contains. Ground nests always have multiple exits. Bees and wasps can easily attack from a secondary exit while a home owner is attempting to treat the primary nest entrance. The elimination of ground bees and wasps should be handled by licensed pest control experts who have the requisite knowledge, safety gear and pest control products and equipment to safely and effectively eliminate dangerous stinging pests.

Jesse Eaton is a member of the pest professional team at ChemTec Pest Control. This New Jersey based pest control firm serves commercial and residential clients. ChemTec Pest Control is located at 186 Saddle River Road, Saddle Brook, NJ. You can reach the bee and wasp experts at ChemTec Pest Control at (201) 843-0780 or by email at wecare@chemtecpest.com. Please visit us on the Web at www.chemtecpest.com (http://www.chemtecpest.com).
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Aug282011

Natural Remedy For Bee Stings – How to Relieve the Sting

Getting stung by a bee is no fun. When it does happen we want relief NOW and to be able to use items found around the house to relieve the pain. There are a variety of items found in the home that will make an immediate natural remedy for bee stings that will relieve the pain and swelling.

 

These are to be used on people who do not have bee sting allergies. If the person stung experiences severe swelling to the area, swelling to the face or mouth, difficulty breathing, blurry vision, dizziness, or hives – head for the ER. This is a severe reaction and can be life threatening. Sometimes people don’t develop a bee sting allergy until later in life or after a previous sting or other chemical change in their system so they may not be aware that they have an allergy until the reaction sets in.

 

The very best treatment for a bee sting is avoidance and bee stings often are. Of course there are situations of stepping into a nest or disturbing a hive and being stung repeatedly, but for the most part bees, not yellow jackets or wasps, like to be left alone and are not aggressive. Bees die after they sting and will only sting if they or their hive is under threat. It’s their last resort. If you wave your arms around or try to swat it, you’re telling the bee you’re ready for a fight, so unless you plan to outrun the bee it’s much better to try to move gently and quietly. If a bee lands on you try blowing on it gently to get it to move on and you’ll be much less likely to be stung.

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If you are stung, first of all remove the stinger to limit the amount of venom released into your system. Clean the sting as you would clean any wound to prevent infection. Then you’ll want to find relief for the itching and swelling!

 

Ways To Make a natural remedy for bee stings from items in your kitchen or bathroom:

Make a paste of meat tenderizer and water or baking soda and water‚ apply to bite area.
Sprinkle the bite area generously with baking soda then drizzle some drops of vinegar over the baking soda to make it fizz. Leave on the bite until thepain is gone.
Cover the bite with a dot of mustard.
Make a thick paste of meat tenderizer and vinegar, apply to bite area.
Cover the bite with honey and reapply as needed for pain.
Dab with a generous amount of toothpaste and leave on the bite area.
Apply ice or an ice pack.
Soak bite area in Epsom salt and water or make paste and apply to bite.
Apply Aloe Vera.
Crush fresh parsley and apply to bite area.
Crush fresh basil leaves and apply to bite area.
Drizzle apple cider vinegar over the bite.
Dab a bit of deodorant on the bite.
Russell Holmes is a beginning beekeeper who keeps his bees happy with their own natural garden. Stop by my site Beekeepinghowto.info to learn more about beekeeping for begniners.
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Aug252011

Everything you wanted to know about Bee Sting Allergies

Honey bees attack people in two instances, when they feel their hive is attacked or when they themselves are threatened. When a honey bee attacks, it lodges its barbed sting into the victim’s skin. A normal reaction involves swelling, redness, pain at the site. However, if the person has bee sting allergy, the reaction is severe and it can even lead to death. In fact, about 40 to 50 people die from bee sting allergies, every year in the United States

Symptoms of Bee Sting Allergies:
If a person with bee sting allergies is stung, the hives would not be localized it but moves to other parts of the body. Following are the symptoms of bee sting allergy:

Red, itchy hives which spread beyond the sting to other areas of the body
Swelling of lips, mouth and throat
Itchy, watery eyes and runny nose

Bee sting allergy can progress to anaphylaxis which is life threatening. The symptoms of anaphylaxis are low blood pressure, breathlessness, difficulty swallowing, dizziness etc. To stop the anaphylactic reaction, Epinephrine should be injected to the victim

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First Aid for Bee Sting:
Persons who are allergic to bee stings should immediately be administered epinephrine to prevent anaphylaxis and they should seek medical help. It is also important to remove the stinger out of the skin by scraping it or by flicking it. Avoid squeezing or pulling out the stinger. Apply cold compresses to the sting site for relief.

How to Avoid Being Stung?
If a person is allergic to bee sting, it is very important to take steps to avoid being stung. Here are a few tips:
Prefer light-colored clothing. Avoid wearing bright colored clothes as bees are attracted to them.
Bees are attracted to flowery perfumes. Hence, avoid wearing deodorants, colognes, perfumes with floral scents when entering into a bee or wasp colony
If bee hives are around your place, make sure they are removed
Avoid leaving food outdoors and close the dustbins, as bees are attracted to food


Bee Sting Allergy Testing:
An allergist can determine if you have bee sting allergy by conducting allergy tests. Blood tests ( RAST) and skin tests are used to test for bee sting allergy

Bee Sting Allergy Treatment:
To prevent the progression of anaphylaxis one should use epinephrine. Self-injectable epinephrine such as Epi-Pen can be used by the victim. Epinephrine should be carried all the time to avoid an anaphylactic reaction.

Venom immunotherapy or allergy shots are long-term treatment option for those with bee allergies. This treatment involves administering minute amounts of allergen over a period of time. Gradually, the person would overcome bee allergies.

Medic-Alert bracelets could be worn by those who have bee sting allergies. This bracelet identifies the medical condition, allergies and enables the doctors to give proper treatment.

Getting yourself tested for bee allergies is the first step in overcoming them. Bee sting allergies are very dangerous and those who have this condition should carry a self-injectable epinephrine all the time.

To find out more about Amitabh’s work and read articles written by him visit his Allergy Tips website
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Aug212011

How to Wipe out a Wasp Nest

The term wasp is ordinarily defined as any insect of the order Hymenoptera and suborder Apocrita that is neither a bee nor an ant. Just about each pest insect species has at least one wasp species that preys upon it or parasitizes it, creating wasps critically crucial in natural control of their numbers, or natural biocontrol. Parasitic wasps are increasingly utilised in agricultural pest control as they prey mostly on pest insects and have small impact on crops.

There’s a lot of assistance around about the way to get rid of a wasp nest, but which advice is finest? That answer depends a good deal upon numerous factors.

Ultimately is safety very first. When searching into the best way to get rid of a wasp nest, the very first consideration really should be personal safety. Some methods folks recommend could aggravate the wasps, which will attack in a swarm. Other techniques do not allow for a variety of safety protocols, leaving you open for getting swarmed and stung or otherwise harmed in the course of your attempts at removal of the it.

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In the event you need to climb a ladder to remove it may be harmful. This is since the wasps can fly about you and attack if agitated. This may cause you to lose your balance and sustain severe injury. A far better alternative could be to make use of a wasp-killing item initially that has a lengthy range on it, so you do not will need to climb a ladder so that you can apply it. Then, once the wasps are dead, the ladder could be utilized to far more safely eliminate the nest.

Professionals suggest safety gear be worn when attempting to eliminate it. This would be a beekeeper type outfit, with pants and sleeves secured inside gloves and boots. Rubber bands could be placed around gloves to hold sleeve inside and prevent wasps from entering. Duct tape would be wrapped around the tops of the boots for the same reason. Heavy pants, a thick long-sleeved shirt along with a beekeeper hat and hood would function in spot of an whole beekeeper outfit.

Subsequent is timing. When it really is dark outside, the wasps will return to the nest and will be calmer. In the event you can safely get rid of it or apply a wasp killing product at night, with out shining a flashlight or other light source on them or the nest, it is going to be your greatest bet. When it really is daylight or when light shines on them, wasps grow to be extra active and can easily turn out to be aggressive. Even when they’re calm, safety precautions will need to be taken and safety gear must be worn.

The best way to get rid of a wasp nest safely may perhaps involve calling in aid. Hiring an expert pest exterminator is always an alternative. It is actually the most beneficial choice if the nest is up high or has grown very extensive. In the event you question whether or not you may safely eliminate it, contact a professional for support.
If you are in search for How to Get Rid of a Wasp Nest methods, check the site. Find out also How to Get Rid of Canker Sores.
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