Commercial Customers
Wasps and Bees
Wasp & Bee Commercial Control from Rentokil
Being stung by a wasp or bee is a painful experience. Only female wasps have the distinctive stingers, which they can use repeatedly unlike bees. If you have been stung by a wasp or bee, please refer to our guide to treating insect stings. The guide also has information on how to avoid being stung when outdoors. Wasps and Bees can be a great disruption to your business, causing problems for both staff and customers.Danger Signs
- Dead insects or live ones searching for food (worker wasps will look for food up to about 400 metres from the nest).
- Noise - constant buzzing or humming. A large bee colony can contain many thousand individual workers each searching for food and protecting the nest.
- Nests: Wasp nests are made from chewed wood pulp and saliva, giving them distinctive paper like walls. Queen wasps search for a sheltered spot with easy access to the outdoors to build their nests, making use of lofts, wall cavities, roof spaces, out-buildings, store rooms and under the eaves of buildings. Some species also use hollows in trees as a nest site. Beehives are made of wax. In India, Bee colonies are often found high in trees or on the higher levels of buildings.
Potential Harm
Untreated infestations can lead to:
- Contamination of foodstuffs - Wasps search for scraps of meat and carrion to feed their young on, whilst as adults they prefer sweet sugary things, such as fruits, jams, syrups and others. Bees will also be very much attracted to sweet and sugary items.
- Threat of stings — Wasps and bees have a potent sting and can attack in large numbers if disturbed or threatened. On average one in thirty people are particularly susceptible to stings and may suffer anaphylactic shock, which require immediate professional medical attention.
Business Consequences
- Alarm — customers become uncomfortable and leave your premises.
- Economics — customers will be weary of returning to your premises and may inform others of their experience, which could damage your goodwill, reputation, custom and eventually your income.
- Employees - fear of being stung may lead to staffing difficulties with greater absences and problems hiring new staff.
Steps to Take
- Wasp Nest and Beehive removal: Getting rid of a beehive or a wasp nest, especially a mature colony or in a difficult to access location requires professional expertise. Rentokil offers effective services to safely destroy wasp and bee nests. For further advice or to arrange a visit from a Rentokil Technician call us all India toll-free under 01800 120 9888
- Proof your premises with appropriate insect screens and doors. Seal possible entry points, such as cracks and crevices.
- Install Vector Plasma - Flying Insect Control units. Vector Plasma uses glue boards to capture and kill flying insects quickly and efficiently. Unlike conventional zapper devices, these indoor units reduce the risk of contamination from flying insect fragmentation or blow out of dead insects.
- Do not attempt DIY treatment if you suspect you are sensitive to insect stings, if the nest is indoors or is difficult to access. Never attempt to treat a wasp or bees nest when on a ladder or from a raised height.
- Wasp and Bee swarms are dangerous - if in doubt, seek professional help from the experts.