The ugly consequences of pesticide bee control

Small Hive Beetle Maggots

When the bees are dead or in a weakened state from pesticide application, the Small Hive Beetle, which is very hard to kill, lays millions of eggs on the comb and dead bees. These eggs hatch into maggots which also causes the honey in the comb to ferment producing a sour smell which will permeate the house and last for weeks to months. The fermenting honey then runs down the walls, ruining drywall, and staining ceilings. The maggots become so numerous they actually boil over dropping out of walls trying to find their way outside to pupate in the ground. The comb must be removed!

Black goo of rotting dead bees and fermenting honey.

Bees keep the temperature of the hive at 92 degrees F. When they are dead or weakened the unripe honey begins to leak out of the comb, some of  the comb falls and this mixes with dead bees and droppings from the wax moths to form a black goo with the smell of dead bees and sour, fermenting honey. This goo can persist in walls for years. Killing the bees with poison, (usually not successful) does nothing to remove the rotting comb and dead bees. These must be physically removed. Why pay twice --once for a pest control application and again for a hive removal

specialist? Or worse, for rebuilding walls and studs ruined by seeping  honey!

Wax moth cocoons and old dry comb.

Wax moth maggots feed on old comb producing webs and black droppings and then dig grooves into wood to attach their cocoons. They then emerge as moths and repeat the cycle. This can cause structural damage and weaken studs and joists. The old dry comb is attractive to any bees looking for a new home and a new bee infestation will start again.