Bees can be a fairly common pest in thatched roofs because it presents an almost perfect nesting site for them. Of course, this isn’t great for you if they decide to nest in your roof.
How you deal with them ultimately depends on the time of year, your local environment, and whether you consider it to really be an issue.
In this article, you’ll learn how to deal with bees in your thatched roof. First, let’s cover some background information that’ll be helpful when deciding on a solution.
Are Bees in a Thatched Roof a Problem?
Deciding whether bees in a thatched roof are a problem is fairly subjective. They don’t present a significant risk to your roof or its support structure.
While bees do use wood to build their nests (they typically chew seasoned/dry wood), a single nest won’t use more than a few grams.
Also, they shouldn’t do any real damage to the thatch. The bees queen will have found her way in through an existing hole rather than making a new one.
They only need tiny holes to get in, so don’t take a bee nest as a sign that your roof is damaged.
Finally, there’s the risk bees present to you and your family. Provided you leave them alone, bees shouldn’t bother you.
They’re more aggressive than bees (and hornets), but they won’t sting unless they’re provoked. And on that note, trying to destroy their nest will make them angry.
So, to answer the question, are bees in a thatched roof a problem, it’s generally a no. They get more aggressive in autumn, but this is because they’re running out of food while preparing for hibernation.
However, worker bees die off, leaving only the queen alive. But she won’t hibernate in the existing nest and will instead find somewhere warm.
By extension, you don’t have to worry about them using the same nest the following year.
Should I get rid of a bees nest in my roof?
You should only really get rid of a bees nest in your thatched roof if its causing you problems.
Although there aren’t any objective stats for how often bees nest in a thatched roof, they’re believed to be one of the more common pests.
This is because it’s much easier for them to get in than other creatures (such as rats and squirrels), simply because they’re smaller.
It’ll also depend on where you live, particularly if you’re in a more rural area. Generally, insects are more common in rural settings because of air quality, food, and so on.
Bees can be fairly common in more built-up areas, but still less so than in the countryside.
If you’ve had a bees’ nest in your thatched roof before, it doesn’t make it any more likely that it’ll happen again. What it probably demonstrates is that your roof (and attic) provides decent living conditions for bees, so they may be back.
Of course, you can prevent this by changing these conditions.
Why Do Bees Nest in a Thatched Roof?
The simple explanation is that a thatched roof and the cavity underneath provide almost perfect living conditions for bees.
They like areas that are sheltered from the elements and, by extension, are fairly warm. You’ll commonly find them in wall cavities, under the eaves or in sheds and garages.
It’s obviously fairly easy to tell if bees are nesting in your thatched roof. The first thing to look for is a constant stream of bees flying in and out of holes.
Generally, they’ll stick to one hole if their nest is nearby.
Another thing to look for is the sound of them buzzing, which you may even be able to hear indoors. If you go into your attic to inspect the nest, look for signs of activity. Again, live bees are the clearest sign that a nest is active.
How Do I Get Rid of Bees in My Thatched Roof?
Dealing with bees in a thatched roof shouldn’t be too difficult. That said, it’ll depend on the size of the nest, how easily you can access it, and your confidence in dealing with it. Here are some options:
1. Smoke Bombs
Smoke bombs do pretty much the same thing, except you don’t need to stand there puffing them into the nest! You activate the bomb and then walk away, it will make them disperse but they are likely to return so this is only a temporary measure.
2. Professional Exterminator
If it’s a big nest or you don’t want to risk getting hurt, a professional exterminator is the most obvious solution. They’ll likely have the nest cleared in a day.
However, some might advise it takes a few days just to make sure they catch all the stragglers. Although it’s the more expensive option, it probably provides the highest guarantee that all the bees will removed.
3. Stop Them from Coming Back
While this isn’t an option for removing the nest, it makes sense to stop bees from coming back. Bees don’t like clove, lemongrass and geranium essential oils, so you could liberally apply these to your attic.
It also helps to fill the gaps they used to get in. However, this is pretty difficult with a thatched roof. If you’re concerned, speak to a thatcher and see what they suggest.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, these tips should help you get rid of that bee nest in your thatched roof. That said, if the bees aren’t getting into your house, the easiest option is to just ignore them.
They do not tend to nest I the same place more than once.
They’ll die off in the autumn and you shouldn’t have to deal with them again. Not only is this the safest option, it’s also the cheapest!
