How to Get Rid of Bees in Your Rain Gutter
Your home is your castle and requires regular maintenance to keep it functioning. Maintenance is important for aesthetic purposes and to keep the market value of your home high. Rain gutters can accumulate dirt, leaves and sometimes bees; the latter is a threat for stings, so they should be eradicated.
Things You Will Need
- Insecticide
- Bee trap
- Sugar
- Water
Tip
Saving honey bees may seem more appealing to you. In this case you should contact a professional pest control service. They are trained and know how to safely remove the bees and the honeycomb without causing damage to the creatures. You can also enlist the help of a professional for other bees if you do not feel comfortable using one of the above methods.
Warning
With these pest control methods, you should be able to either get rid of the bees in your rain gutter or prevent them from making a home there in the first place. Keep in mind, however, that if you are planning on working anywhere near the bees or their homes, you should use caution to avoid being stung.
There are different methods you can use to rid your rain gutters of bees.
Spraying
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Purchase a bug spray or insecticide suitable for bees. There are some environmentally friendly products that will work.
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Wait for night fall when the bees will be in the hive. You can spray in the daytime also, but it requires more applications since some bees are away then.
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Aim the nozzle right into the bottom of the nest or hive. Spray the hive well so the insecticide penetrates the hive and gets to the bees.
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Repeat the spraying again the next day. Be vigilant for any further bee activity.
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Remove and dispose of the nest when it is safe to do so.
Trapping
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Purchase a bee or wasp trap from the store. You can make your own with a plastic bottle by cutting it in half and placing the neck portion inside the bottom portion and securing around the edges with glue or tape.
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Pour a sweet mixture of sugar and water or some sweet beverage inside the contraption. You will need to check your trap daily to be sure there is sufficient liquid and that condensation hasn't completely evaporated your bait.
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Attach a string and hang the trap near your rain gutter. The bees will be enticed into the trap for a drink and will not be able to escape. Eventually they will drown and die.
References
Photo Credits
- Jupiterimages/BananaStock/Getty Images
- Jupiterimages/BananaStock/Getty Images
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