Hair: Bees appear furry all over. Wasps and hornets may have a small amount of hair on their bodies, but you’d need to inspect them very closely to see it. Food sources: Bees nourish themselves from flowers’ nectar. Wasps and hornets prey on other insects and/or scavenge food waste. Thickness: Bees tend to be pretty plump in the middle, while wasps and hornets have thinner waists and more elongated bodies. [1] X Research source
Visual clues: Carpenter bees feature a black dot on the top of their thorax (the part where the wings and legs grow from). They also have less hair than a bumblebee. Sociability: Carpenter bees are solitary, while bumblebees tend to swarm.
Honeybees’ nests are often found within hollow spaces, such as tree trunks, logs, and fence posts. They usually don’t use home structures to build their nests but are sometimes found in roofs, attics, and wall cavities if there is access from the outside. Bumblebees typically nest in or near the soil, such as in deserted rodent nests, compost piles, or underneath raised outdoor structures like sheds or porches. Carpenter bees usually burrow into wood to build their nests. Look for bee activity around coin-sized holes in things like eaves, porches, and trimming. [5] X Research source
Although most bees have stingers, they usually only ever use them as a last resort, which means you really have to antagonize them before they sting you. As long as you stay relaxed when they’re around, you should be fine. In fact, some bees (like male carpenter bees) don’t even have stingers. [7] X Research source One exception to this rule may be Africanized honey bees, which are much more likely to turn aggressive and stay that way once they’re disturbed. [8] X Research source
Carpenter bees will continue to expand their nests throughout wooden structures if left alone. Honeybees create honeycombs. These can become quite heavy and possibly damage surrounding areas. [10] X Research source The honey may also attract other animals. [11] X Research source
Bees are usually happy to ignore you right up until you start messing with their nest. And though a single bee sting is pretty bearable, you may be faced with dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of the little guys when you attack them at the source. [13] X Research source Depending on the type of bee you have, the method for removing them may vary. Professionals may use smoke, pesticides, or other means of extraction for the bees themselves, plus using the second hive to extract honey from the left-behind nest. Removal of the nest itself may also require carpentry work to gain access and repair damage to structures.
What free services (if any) are available will depend on your area. They may include extraction of both bees and nests or only the bees themselves. They may or may not include repairs to any structural damage. Free services are more likely to be available if the nest is in a natural structure (like a tree) rather than your home or other manmade structure. However, it’s still worth calling and finding out for sure about their policy regarding manmade structures on your property.
This is of particular importance if the nest is located within your home’s structure. Gaining access to it may involve cutting into the structure to expose the nest. Free services may not include repairs needed afterwards. If repairs aren’t done or are done improperly then new bees might take up residence in the same area. This means it may be cheaper in the long run to hire a private company that will remove the bees, make repairs, and offer a warranty covering future infestations.
If you aren’t able to locate a beekeeper in your area, find a pest control company specializing in bees instead. They may also attempt to remove honeybees before resorting to extermination.
Bee specialists are more likely to take care of repairs themselves, while a more general pest control company will probably only get rid of the bees. This means you will have to either do the repairs yourself or hire a contractor. Bee specialists are also more likely to offer you a warranty in case bees return to the same area, which may save you more money in the long run.
Close any other gaps, cracks, or other points of access, too. Remember: if one bee colony set up shop within a structure, others will do the same. Assess the area and identify any points where bees could access it. Seal those points with caulk, insulation foam, or whatever the situation demands.
Blocking access to crawl spaces and underneath raised structures like outdoor sheds, porches, or decks. Filling in old rodent dens and other holes in the ground. Putting compost into a container rather than leaving it as an open pile. Removing hollowed trees and logs.
