Why can bees nest inside walls?
Bees can nest inside walls mainly because they are very adept at finding and utilizing small gaps or existing openings, such as ventilation holes, damaged bricks, or wood.
Inside the walls provide a relatively safe and protected environment, which can help bees fend off predators and harsh weather.
As for the raw material for bee nesting, it's primarily beeswax, which bees produce themselves. Bees have a special set of wax glands on their abdomen that can secrete wax. Once secreted, these waxes gradually solidify, and worker bees use them to construct hexagonal honeycombs. These honeycombs are used not only to store honey and pollen but also for incubating new bees.
The construction process of honeycombs is highly organized, with worker bees meticulously crafting these hexagonal structures, resulting in high structural efficiency and stability of the hive. Additionally, bees may use external resin (propolis) to enhance the stability and protective capabilities of the hive. Propolis also helps prevent bacteria and parasites from invading the hive.
Who decides where bees build their nest?
The role of the queen bee in the hive is crucial. She serves not only as the reproductive center of the entire colony but also as the core guiding and unifying force through pheromone release to direct colony behavior. When a new queen bee is ready to establish a new hive, she leads a portion of the worker bees away from the existing hive, a process known as "swarming."
During the swarming process, the queen bee and the bees following her seek out a new suitable location for nesting. Once a suitable site is found, the worker bees begin constructing the hive, while the queen bee is responsible for egg-laying inside the nest. The worker bees follow the pheromonal cues of the queen to maintain order within the nest and carry out tasks such as nest-building and rearing offspring. The presence of the queen bee is crucial for the stability and growth of the colony.
However, this decision is not made solely by the queen bee; it's a collective process involving the entire colony. This decision-making process involves the behavior of scout bees whose task is to search for and evaluate potential nesting sites.
After scout bees locate potential nesting sites, they assess factors such as safety, size, insulation, and wind protection. Ideal locations are typically dry, sheltered, and spacious enough to accommodate the colony.
Upon returning to the colony, scout bees communicate the location information through a special "waggle dance" to other bees. This dance conveys information about direction and distance, helping other bees locate the site.
Other bees will inspect these locations based on the information provided. As more scout bees endorse a particular site, they join in the "dance" recommending that location, gradually forming a collective consensus.
Once a location garners enough support, the colony collectively flies to that site and begins constructing a new hive.
Sometimes, bees may choose rather unconventional nesting spots. Like cars...
At that point, reaching out to professionals is the only choice.
While the haphazard nesting of bees can be bothersome, looking at it from another perspective, bees have stringent requirements for their survival. They need ample sunlight, sufficient humidity, and most importantly, good ventilation without strong drafts. Therefore, bees entering a house may indicate that the interior environment is highly suitable for them to inhabit, suggesting that the "feng shui" of the home is quite favorable.