Although there are more than 20,000 species of bees on the planet — including an estimated 3,600 species in North America — very few are likely to take up residence in the American home.
Bee problems are likely linked to honeybees since they tend to interfere with your structures. “Honeybees are the only kind of bees you’re going to get in a structure in large numbers,” said Jody L. Gangloff-Kaufmann, an urban entomologist and senior extension associate for the New York State Integrated Pest Management Program at Cornell University.
While honeybees are known to be harmless unless they are defending their hive, related Africanized bees are not. Africanized bees, also known as killer bees, are nearly identical to the European honeybee in the U.S. However, interbreeding has led to a notably more dangerous bee in that Africanized bees will be more aggressive in protecting their colonies. This species is more common in southern U.S. states, such as Texas and Florida.
You may also encounter carpenter bees, but these typically are not an issue. Seeing a solitary bee may seem like a problem for decks and other wood structures, given the bee is drilling holes to lay eggs, but “the holes themselves aren’t usually that destructive,” said Phil Frank, a certified master beekeeper in Bethesda, Maryland.
Whether you just moved into a new home with an existing bee problem or suddenly see a honeybee colony coming in and out of a wall, getting rid of the infestation is likely top of mind. But few people have the know-how to get the job done. Here is everything you need to know about humanely removing honeybees from your property.
How do you move bees without killing them?
Call up a local beekeeper or bee removal specialist. Unlike dealing with other insect or bug infestations, handling bees takes expertise and deep knowledge of honeybees. “If you don’t know bees, you’re never going to be able to remove the bees,” said Sean Kennedy, a beekeeper in Washington, D.C., whose apiary is at the Embassy of Switzerland.
A general exterminator will have a problem applying pesticides to all the layers of the honeycomb that make up the very complex hive. “If you don’t know how to find the queen, all you can do is open up the wall and destroy the hive, which doesn’t do anybody any good,” he said.
What’s more, killing bees instead of proper honeybee removal sets you up for a new problem: What to do with a dead bee colony that attracts other pests? Beeswax and pollen are “a perfect magnet” for all kinds of critters looking for energy and protein, Kennedy added.
A better option to handle these powerhouse pollinators is to find a beekeeper in your county and ask for help with live bee removal. You can also contact the local extension program for a directory of master beekeepers and bee removal specialists.
Where can you relocate the bees?
The local beekeeper you recruit may adopt your bee hive, but if not, they can recommend new locations for your bothersome bee population. Other bee relocation solutions include the following:
A beekeeper or organization
Contact community gardens, parks and even cemeteries to see if they will host bee hives. “Honeybees, even though they’re not native, are valuable,” Gangloff-Kaufmann said. “A colony would be like a $200 gift.”
Bee hotels
Honeybees are social creatures, living in hives of up to 80,000 members in a single colony. A bee hotel, the bee equivalent of a birdhouse, may not be the top choice for a colony but a hospitable place for solitary wild bees.
You can DIY a bee hotel or purchase a premade house and place it somewhere on your property where you wouldn’t mind a bee habitat. Just be aware that it is not a foolproof solution.
“There’s such an abundance of solitary bees looking for homes, so whatever you put up will attract them,” Kennedy said. “[But] will [a bee] go there instead of your house or deck? I don’t know.”
How do you prevent bees from nesting on your property?
Given that lush yards and flower beds will attract bees, you can’t banish bees off your property without making it unpleasant for yourself, too. “They are part of our world, and most of the time, we can cohabitate very nicely,” Frank said.
Nonetheless, there are several ways to deter bees from nesting in your structures.
- Patch up holes in bricks: Bees like cavities and a brick opening, especially if there is no insulation behind, can consider this a perfect new home, Frank said.
- Fill cavities with insulation: A poorly insulated attic or walls can signal a welcoming nesting environment. Adding insulation to these places will deter these guests from moving in.
- Clean up your yard: Refuse such as old tires or broken flower pots are ideal spots with nooks and crannies that bees like. Don’t give them a reason to settle there.
What’s next?
While it’s usually possible to relocate honeybees, some situations make it difficult. You may not be able to cut into a wall of a historical building, preventing access for the beekeeper.
In this instance, Kennedy said that allowing “nature to take its course” may be your best option, as the bees will likely die naturally when it gets cold. “It’s very difficult to keep bees alive through the winter, especially bees that aren’t being taken care of by a beekeeper,” he added.
An important note: While most bees won’t bother you or your property, a hornet or wasp infestation is a very different problem that should require the help of a professional pest control service. Wasps, such as yellow jackets, are generally black and yellow, while honeybees are a warm golden hue with brownish stripes.
You can also identify the insects by the way they enter or exit your structure. “A yellow jacket looks like a bullet that sways back and forth in the air, holding its legs really close to the body, whereas honeybees dangle their legs,” Gangloff-Kaufmann said.
Editorial note: The name “Homefront” refers to the alliance between USA TODAY and Home Solutions that publishes review, comparison, and informational articles designed to help USA TODAY readers make smarter purchasing and investment decisions about their home. Under the alliance, Homefront provides and publishes research and articles about home service and home improvement topics.
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