What To Do About The Bees, Wasps And Hornets That Inhabit Your Home

While bees, wasps and hornets are important components of the natural environment, they represent a potential danger when they build nests in or near buildings and dwellings. While home improvement store shelves overflow with insecticides designed for killing these pests, dealing with these stinging insects is a task best left to pest control professionals. If you suspect bees or wasps have colonized your home, try to identify which species is responsible and arrange to have the nest removed.

Honeybees

Honeybees are the most destructive bee or wasp species that commonly builds nests in buildings. The honey they produce can damage walls and attract secondary pests. Additionally, unlike all other bees and wasps, who die each winter, honeybee hives last many years. Always have suspected honeybee hives inspected by a qualified pest control professional promptly to limit the damage they cause. The longer you allow the nest to persist, the more honey the bees will produce, which raises the removal and repair costs substantially.

Yellow Jackets

Yellow jackets are usually the most aggressive of all bees and wasps. They build their homes in highly protected locations and guard the entrances diligently. While yellow jackets historically dug nests under tree stumps or in holes excavated from riverbanks, a few species – especially German yellow jackets -- have begun nesting inside the walls of buildings. Yellow jackets are far too aggressive for amateur removal, so contact a pest control professional if you suspect your home is harboring a colony.

Paper Wasps

Paper wasps are usually mild-mannered components of your property's insect fauna, but they have a propensity for building nests under porches and awnings. Paper wasp nests are usually more accessible than those of bees or yellow jackets, making it easier for homeowners to eradicate small nests themselves. However, people with allergies to bees and wasps should never approach nests close enough to discharge wasp sprays. Such people should avoid the nest and have a pest control professional perform the task.

Hornets

Hornets usually build watermelon-sized nests that they suspend from tree branches or roof lines. If they are located far from human activity, hornets represent a relatively minor threat; however, nests near high-traffic areas often cause problems. When hornets feel threatened they become quite aggressive, so homeowners should solicit the services of a competent pest control company, rather than attempt to remove nests themselves. Hornet nests may last for several months or years after the insects have died, so watch for the insects entering and leaving the nest to confirm that the nest is still active. 

In any case, make sure to call a professional pest specialist like ASAP Bee Removal to help you out.