Bees | Des Moines, IA

How Many Types of Bee Species Are There?

Today, there are approximately 20,000 recorded species of bees. The largest known species of bee is the Megachile Pluto at 1.5 inches long. Though the Megachile Pluto is the largest, bees can be as small as 1/16 inch long. Bees tend to be black or brown in color with yellow or blue stripes.

Do All Bees Live in Hives?

Most bees are social, but there are two species of bees that are extremely social: the honey bee and the bumble bee. Somewhat surprisingly, there are also species of bees that are solitary. When it comes to bee colonies, they are known to be comprised of three castes. There is the queen bee, female worker bees and then the male drones. It is the queen bees that lay eggs throughout their life. Most bees live approximately two to three years, however, honey bee queens can live up to five years.

The male drone bees exist only to fertilize the queen bee and will die soon after doing so. The female worker bees execute numerous tasks to ensure the hive remains in tack. Due to their consistent laboring, the worker bee's lifespan is usually only about six weeks.

When Do Bees Form New Colonies?

It is during the winter season that a queen bee forms a new colony and will begin to lay eggs inside the cells of the honeycomb. The fertilized eggs will then hatch and become worker bees, whereas the unfertilized eggs will become honey bee males (drones). It is after three days that the eggs will hatch into larvae and will be fed by the worker honey bees with honey. They will continue to eat and grow until they become queens, workers or drones.

Where Do Bees Build Nests?

There are many benefits of having bees in the environment. However, it is extremely dangerous to let a bee hive exist around your home. Bee's nests can, at times, be difficult to identify since nests vary by species. Bees are known to build nests in the ground, within trees and even on your home. 

Common places to find bee's nests include:

• Shallow holes in your lawn
• Beneath rocks
• Inside tree branches
• Some may take over bird's nests or even other bee's nests

What Types of Bees Are Common in Iowa?

Honey Bees

Honey bees produce honey from the nectar of flowers. This honey is metabolized by bees during the winter to keep them from freezing. Honey bees are one of the most familiar insects in the world. They are a beneficial insect because they play a key role in pollination of plants. Honey bees should be removed only if they are causing a safety or health issue in your home. Honey bees are social insects and live in hives that may contain up to 20,000 bees.

When treating for honey bees, it is important to remove any honey that remains in the walls after colony removal. If the honey is left inside of the walls, the honey will melt and cause damage to walls. Also, other insects will be attracted to the honey and will thrive in your house.

Ground Bees

Ground bees dig small holes in the ground. Each hole, or burrow, is the size of a pencil, but only one inch deep. They are not aggressive but can become an annoyance due to their large numbers.

Carpenter Bee

Carpenter bees are known for their ability to drill 1/2 inch holes into wood to make a place to lay their eggs. Carpenter bees resemble Bumble bees in appearance. They usually damage unpainted or weathered boards.

How to Get Rid of Bees: Preferred Pest Bee Removal & Treatments

Honey Bee Removal: When it comes to removing honey bees, we first recommend calling a local beekeeper to remove the colony from the hive. If this is not possible, Preferred Pest technicians will come out and inject a small amount of pesticide directly into the honey bee entry hole to begin the removal process.

Ground Bee Removal: Similar to honey bee removal, Preferred Pest technicians will inject a pesticide directly into each nest opening in the ground or retaining wall. This method is precise and extremely effective.

Carpenter Bee Removal: As stated previously, to effectively remove carpenter bees from a homeowner's property, Preferred Pest technicians will inject a pesticide into the hole that the bee has drilled into the wood.

Des Moines Pest Control

Don't let bees wreak havoc inside or outside your home or business; Preferred Pest Control can solve the problem! As the leading Des Moines pest control company, we will remove them effectively and efficiently. Schedule an appointment online or give us a call us at (515) 415-5550!