Everything You Need to Know About Honey Bees Roof Infestation
Sep 28, 2022Bees in Your Roof? Here’s What to Do!
Most people don’t consider honey to be a potential problem. It’s sweet and tasty and conjures up the sound of buzzing bees and pleasant summer evenings. But honey suddenly doesn’t seem so sweet when it begins draining down your pipes and discoloring your walls.
What could cause such a sticky situation? A bee infestation! Honey bees frequently set up their nests under shingles and on roofs. Today, Istueta Roofing in Miami, FL, is sharing information about this frustrating invasion, its consequences for your roof, and how to fix the damage.
How Honey Bees Can Damage Your Roof
If honey bees infiltrate your home by crawling inside your walls or roof, they can leave behind a stream of devastation. The weightiness of the honeycomb the bees build and the honey they make can cause structural damage to your house. In addition, honey and the honeycomb can discolor, or even destroy, your shingles and the felt paper or tar under them.
These bees don’t just burrow through a hole and make a nest to match the space; instead, they will chew up and take away just about anything in their way. Consequently, they can damage the insulation and remove it to accommodate their nest.
Why Bees Infiltrate Your Roof
It’s the job of honey bee scouts to find a good place for their colony to build its nest. The scouts will look for deep, dark spaces that are protected from predators and intruders. A protected opening should go into a larger space of about 4 to 9 gallons. Spaces like crevices in rocks, hollowed-out trees, and, sadly, your walls and roof accommodate these spaces. The bees like the depth, the darkness, and the easy access they have inside your home.
When Bees Infiltrate Your Roof
Scout bees search for nesting places during their swarm season, which is typically from the middle of March to early July.
During that time, bee colonies that have become too large split into two separate colonies, and one of them goes off to search for someplace new to build a nest. When the scout bees search for appropriate living spaces, the rest of the colony gathers in a swarm, typically on a fence, tree limb, or similar place.
When the scout bees find a good place for a nest, they return to their colony to share the news. The entire colony then follows them, and the worker bees get to work building the new nest.
How Bees Gain Entry Into Your Roof
As mentioned earlier, when the scout bees search for a new colony home, they try to find a dark, deep space with an easily protected entrance. When the bees are able to nest in your roof, it’s because they discovered a hole that they can move in and out of and an empty area where they can build their nest.
Bees only require a hole 1/8″ wide to access your roof and begin building honeycomb. The bees often find these entrances through holes in between bricks and where siding materials intersect. They don’t typically dig out a hole, so they have to locate an existing hole in your roof to make a home.
Signs of an Infestation
The most noticeable sign of a bee infestation is a buzzing sound inside your walls or roof. You might also see a lot of activity outside your house. If you see more bees than normal zipping around your yard and flying to and from your roof, you might have a bee infestation.
A more significant sign of a problem is spots of dark, sticky honey that down your drizzle down your drainpipes or leak through your walls.
How to Prevent an Infestation
The best way to stop honey bees from infiltrating your roof is to make sure there aren’t any holes or cracks for them to enter. To ensure this, you should contact a Miami roofing contractor to perform an inspection on your roof each year to check for entry points.
How to Clean Up After an Infestation
An infestation can disturb your life and wreck your Miami roof. To remove the bees from your roof, you’ll need to contact a professional beekeeper to lure bees away. After the beekeepers have removed the bees, it’s time for you to clean up the mess. You’ll need to call in an experienced roofer to fix your roof and replace any shingles that have been damaged from the honey or the honeycomb.
Bee Removal is NOT a DIY Job
Bees can – and will – strike at the slightest signs of incitement, such as when you try to remove the hive or spray them with water. If you don’t remove every last bee and leave deceased ones lying around, they can begin to rot and summon more pests to your home.
In addition, removing the bees doesn’t just mean getting rid of them. It also includes getting rid of the honey and other debris left behind. It’s a complex process that requires specialized experience, skills, and equipment.
If you believe you may have a bee infestation on your Miami roof, contact us today, and we can help you find a removal professional and repair your roof as needed. Watch our video regarding bee infestations below or click here.
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If you want more information or are ready to discuss your roofing project, contact Istueta Roofing today to schedule a professional consultation by calling us at (305) 671-9190. You can also schedule online here.
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