Bees are an essential part of our ecosystem. With their ability to pollinate flowers, fruit trees, and other food-producing crops, not to mention the ones that make honey, bees are an important insect for farmers and our environment.
Bees are less aggressive than some common species of wasps, with the exception of the Africanized honey bee. However, for people who are allergic to bee stings, and those who are not, the threat of being stung can be scary. Since different bees tend to be more threatening than others, before taking action to control bees, it's important to properly identify what species you're seeing.
Africanized honey bees are also known as “killer bees,” a hybrid of an Africanized and European bee subspecies. Originating in Brazil in the 1950s, they eventually made their way to the U.S. where they now reside in warmer states such as Texas, California, New Mexico, Arizona, Florida, and more.
Africanized honey bees tend to build their waxy-comb nests in the open. However, on occasion, their nests can be found in small, sheltered locations such as meter boxes, grills, or cement blocks. If their nest is disturbed, they will abandon it and swarm. Africanized honey bees swarm more times a year than European honey bees. Because they don’t store honey like the European honey bees, they cannot survive colder climates.
Africanized honey bees have a social structure much like their less aggressive cousins. However, they are extraordinarily territorial and aggressive when protecting their hive. They also have a much wider area that they consider their own, and if a child, pet, or person wanders into that area, drones can send out a chemical alert that will send the entire colony into “attack” mode.
Africanized bees will attack any perceived threat in much greater numbers than European honey bees. In comparison, a honey bee may alert ten drones, whereas an Africanized honey bee will send out 1,000. Often victims of an attack will have hundreds of stings. Although their venom is no more potent than an average honey bee, the sheer number of stings equates to more venom entering the target's body. Their goal is to sting until the object is no longer perceived as a threat.
Africanized honey bees are infamous for being bad-tempered, for taking over areas once populated by standard honey bees, and for their willingness to attack anyone or anything that comes near their nest. However, Africanized honey bees do help pollinate plants.
Since it’s so difficult to differentiate Africanized honey bees from European honey bees, it is best to stay away from the nest and contact a bee control technician who can determine what species of bee you are dealing with.
Western’s bee control technicians are familiar with the bee species in your area and can help to determine what the best and safest solutions are for all your bee control needs.
With 26 species of bumble bees in California alone, and 49 species throughout the US, you can easily spot these black and yellow-haired flying orbs during the warmer months as they seek out pollen and nectar from flowering plants.
Vital to our ecosystem, bumble bees pollinate several important agricultural crops in California and the surrounding states. Avocados, tomatoes, cherries, blueberries, and apples are just a handful of the crops for which consumers have bumble bees to thank.
Bumble bees make their nests in the ground; sometimes using abandoned rodent burrows and areas beneath paved patios, compost piles, wood piles, and even in very long grass. As social insects, their nest consists of a queen, workers, and drones.
Bumble bees are fairly passive and have little interest in stinging people, unless they feel threatened or are mishandled in any way. When a nest is disturbed or threatened, the colony will emit a very loud, angry, buzzing sound.
Queens and workers, the females of the nest, have stingers and can use them repeatedly. However, drones (males used for mating) do not possess a stinger.
The only way a bumble bee nest poses a threat to a business or homeowner is if someone is allergic to their sting. If a bumble bee nest is in close proximity to the entrance or a pathway of a building and is a risk to your safety or the safety of others, you should consult a professional who specializes in effective and environmentally friendly solutions.
Our treatment approach begins with understanding the species of bumble bee and its habitat. Our local bee technicians are familiar with the specific species of pests that can threaten the safety of residents and businesses.
With over 500 species of carpenter bees worldwide, only five live in North America, with three primary species found in the Western US. Varying in color and size, these are:
Unlike other bees that live in colonies, carpenter bees are mainly solitary. They are pollinators, foraging for pollen to feed to their young. While some species prefer to build their nests in natural structures such as trees, others will target man-made structures such as decking, fencing, and siding, which can become an issue for home and business owners.
Female carpenter bees make their nests by boring holes into wood. A nest entrance will exhibit a perfectly round hole and a small pile of sawdust. Valley carpenter bees prefer partly deceased oak, eucalyptus, and other hardwoods. California carpenter bees favor more aromatic dwellings, including incense cedars and redwood trees. Mountain carpenter bees have been known to nest in wood decks, eaves, fascia boards, doors, railings, window trim, and other wooden surfaces—even painted and sealed woods. They are persistent and don’t seem to mind either way.
In the spring, females will search for nests left by earlier generations or excavate new ones, preferably in soft, untreated wood. The tunnels they excavate provide shelter for their eggs, and larvae and may include several brood chambers. A new generation of adults will emerge in late summer.
Female carpenter bees may sting if mishandled or stepped on. However, the males, which exhibit more aggressive and territorial behavior, do not have stingers. Carpenter bees are fairly docile and one of the least aggressive stinging insects.
They are considered pests because they bore holes into wooden structures. Although one hole may seem insignificant, when generations of carpenter bees continue to tunnel into the same wood and surrounding wooden structures, it can lead to more significant structural damage. Carpenter bee broods tend to return to the same nesting location, where they’ll drill new holes.
Not only can holes in structures expose the wood to moisture and rot, the larvae developing in the holes may also attract woodpeckers, creating an even larger opening and more damage. If you notice carpenter bee activity around your home or business, call a professional to set up an initial carpenter bee inspection.
An initial inspection of your property can determine if there are any contributing factors that make your home or business a more attractive nesting site for carpenter bees. Untreated or unpainted wood surfaces are more susceptible, as are prior carpenter bee nesting sites. Additionally, your property’s proximity to a carpenter bee's natural habitat may also increase the likelihood of it becoming a nesting site.
If there is an active carpenter bee nest on your property, Western is here to help. Call to schedule an appointment with one of our carpenter bee Technicians.
Although there is not a preventative treatment for carpenter bees, being proactive by making sure any exposed wood is sealed and existing holes are filled may help to deter them from boring additional holes.
As one of the largest groups of pollinators, honey bees prefer to live outside, where flowering plants are abundant. They mainly build their nests inside tree cavities, rock crevices, and under objects that can offer shelter. However, if your home or business is near a natural environment, especially during peak swarming season (May-July), bees may seek out chimneys, wall voids, shingled roofs, and in between window panes for a secure nesting site. Because honey bee nests can grow quite large in size, this puts homes and businesses at risk of structural damage.
Although honey bees are not aggressive unless they feel threatened, people still fear being stung. When a honey bee stings, the stinger, venom sac, and internal organs of the bee become detached from the bee’s body, causing them to die. Since the glands associated with the venom sac continue to pump venom, the stinger should be removed immediately. Though painful, honey bee stings are only dangerous to people allergic to bee stings.
In addition to stinging, honey bees can damage structures when they build nests in wall and ceiling voids. As the nest grows in size, the presence of honey and beeswax can cause the wall to sag or become stained. If you do notice a honey bee swarm forming in or near your property, a beekeeper can often relocate the bees without harming them.
Prevention can be challenging, but not impossible. With a thorough inspection of your home or business, our bee control Technicians can pinpoint any potential entry points where honey bees may access. Holes that are a quarter of an inch or larger should be sealed. It is best to have an inspection done prior to swarming season to avoid the establishment of a colony. If you do have a swarm outside your home or business, a licensed beekeeper may be called to see if it can safely be removed.
If you’ve had honey bees in the past, especially in areas that were not so easily accessible, ensuring all the honeycomb has been removed will help to prevent future infestations. Pheromones left on the honeycomb may attract future swarms.
Western Exterminator’s technicians can help eliminate the risks associated with nests in and around your property. Our bee experts can quickly determine what the most effective treatment approach is for your home or business. Give us a call to schedule an inspection.
There are over 20,000 different species of bees worldwide, with approximately 4,000 kinds of bees found in the United States alone. These range from the well-known honey bees and bumble bees to lesser-known species like the mason bee and carpenter bee.
Bees play a crucial role in pollinating plants, including many of the crops we rely on for food. According to the USDA, about 75% of the world's flowering plants and 35% of global food crops depend on animal pollinators, most of which are bee species. Their pollination efforts support ecosystems, biodiversity, and agricultural industries alike.
To identify the different types of bees, you need to observe key features such as size, color, and nesting behavior. For example, bumble bees are generally larger and fuzzy when compared to carpenter bees, honey bees, and Africanized honey bees. If you’re unsure, consult your local Western pest control expert to help identify the bee species on your property.
Not all kinds of bees sting. For example, male bees (drones) do not have stingers. Among female bees, honey bees and bumble bees are capable of stinging, but they generally only do so when threatened. Some types of bees, like the stingless bees, cannot sting at all.
The living habits of different species of bees vary widely. Honey bees are social insects typically housed in hives, which are man-made structures designed for honey production and colony management. Bumble bees also live in colonies but often prefer natural underground nests or abandoned rodent burrows. Meanwhile, solitary bees such as mason bees and leafcutter bees build their nests in natural settings like hollow stems, wood cavities, or soil. These differences reflect their unique survival strategies, and understanding these behaviors can help with proper bee control methods.
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