OUR COMMITMENT TO HONEY BEE PRESERVATION

Honey bees validate the arrival of spring. Typically, after the snow melts and the flowers begin to bloom, honey bees appear and begin pollinating our crops and flowers for the upcoming year.  

In most recent years, the numbers in which honey bees are disappearing is increasing, with our flower fields and crops lacking the pollination required to thrive and survive.

The bee population has dropped dramatically in the past decade. Since 2006, honey bee colonies have mysteriously struggled and beekeepers have reported devastating losses in numbers of bees. More troubling, the cause for the demise of honey bees is unknown, and is referred to as CCD or colony collapse disorder. Theories for CCD range from pesticides to more recently the result of varroa mites (external parasites), which attack honey bees and their broods. Varroa mites have been a major pest for honey bees since they were first introduced to Florida in the 1980’s. These pests suck the blood from adult bees and their broods, which shortens their lives and leaves the broods deformed. Varroa mites have the power to infect and overtake entire colonies, as a varroa mite is dependent upon honey bees for survival.

The dwindling numbers of honey bees leaves a colossal impact on our lives. Honey bees pollinate 80% of our vegetable and fruit crops, such as apples, blueberries, strawberries, onions, broccoli and alfalfa, to name a few. It is not only our food supply that will suffer - honey bees pollinate cotton crops as well. Cotton makes up 40% of the world’s fibers. Ironically, the insecticides used to treat a majority of cotton crops are known to be harming the bee population.

With honey bees on the verge of extinction in North America, and the impact now felt in parts of Asia and Europe, we have stepped up to do our part to help preserve the honey bee population locally. To help preserve honey bees and prevent unnecessary harm to them, we began raising honey bees in June at Smith Farms in Keswick, Ontario and now have five colonies under our expert care.

We have also expanded our services to include honey bee extraction. Honey bee extraction is a difficult process which involves safely removing the nest and insects and relocating the nest and honey bees as safely as possible and relocated it to a safer, not ideal location for the honey bees to thrive in. Extractions are complicated and should not be attempted without a professional.

We are excited, hopeful and eager to begin this journey in honey bee preservation. For Environmental Pest Control offering honey bee extraction services and raising colonies is the natural, and right thing to do. If anyone is seeking methods for how to kill bees or how to get rid of bees, we encourage them to consider extraction and call us.