Bee Bombers for Hire

Are bees pests? According to Hydrex (a pest control franchise in Petaluma) they are. You may have seen their road sign touting, “The Pest of the Month: BEES.” And, having been labeled “pests,” the company guarantees the destruction of every last one of those vicious little killers be they in your backyard or attic.

Never mind that honeybees are vegetarians uninterested in your meaty flesh unless forced into a defensive action. This is the time of year honeybees are looking for new homes and they may decide they like yours. This is, however, no reason to call out the demolition squad. Especially when there are options such as contacting the countless, generally free, businesses and individuals who will gladly come out and move the bees to a place where they can live and do the good and necessary work they are designed for. Perhaps the confusion comes from the fact that when it comes to flying critters, we humans tend to lump them all together and automatically categorize them as bad. But, honeybees are not Yellow Jackets or Hornets, two especially ornery insects we might have a reason to go to war with.

Honeybees are in enough trouble dealing with mysterious hive deaths, pesticides, and farmers who specialize in seedless produce, without having to put up with our irrational fear of them. If a swarm settles on a problematic location on your property, do the right thing and contact the Sonoma County Beekeepers’ Association for their expansive list of companies and beekeepers who are willing to safely and humanly remove them. They can be reached at 707 565 2371 or www.sonomabees.org. If you want to learn more about beekeeping check out one of the seminars at www.beekind.com.

Master Gardener Workshop, April 4, Healdsburg

Encouraging and Keeping Honeybees in Your Garden
If you are interested in helping to restore the dwindling number of honeybees, plan to attend a free workshop on Sat., April 4 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Healdsburg Regional Library, 139 Piper St. Sonoma County Master Gardener and Beekeeper April Lance will explain how “Colony Collapse Disorder” or CCD has led to the disappearance of nearly half the honeybee population in the United States.

“Just two beehives in the backyard can help to alleviate the problem,” Lance advises. “I will show how to set up hives and explain where to acquire the needed equipment. Lance will demonstrate how to create a simple habitat in the garden that is attractive to bees including a good, continuous source of water.” Plants that provide nectar sources for honeybees will be discussed.

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