Help With Bee Problems

Bees in the wall, the eaves or the yard? Start here.

Plain answers on honey bee swarms, colonies inside a house and carpenter bees, plus what live removal and treatment actually involve. Tell us what you've noticed and ask about an inspection or a quote.

A few details help: where you see bees, when they appear, and how long it has been going on.

Open the quote form Call +1 888 546 7983

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Honey bee swarm cluster on a low tree branch

Explore bee control services

Garden border, leaf litter and outdoor water tap inspection setting

Honey Bee Assessment

Find out whether you have a passing swarm or a colony that has moved in, and what live removal would involve for your situation.

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Blank inspection checklist, floor plan and inspection tools

Swarm Capture

A cluster hanging in the open is usually calm and often easy to collect, but it can move into a cavity within a day or two, so timing matters.

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Flashlight inspection of a door threshold and foundation joint

Colony Removal From Walls and Roofs

When bees are inside the house, the comb has to come out too. Learn what opening the cavity, cleaning it and sealing it involves.

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Service estimate and notebook on a table

Carpenter Bee Control

Round holes in bare wood with sawdust underneath. Treating the tunnels, plugging them and painting the wood is what stops next spring's drilling.

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Why do bees keep coming back?

Most bee calls come down to one of three things: a swarm resting on a branch or an eave, a honey bee colony that has moved into a wall, attic or chimney, or carpenter bees drilling bare wood on a deck or fascia. Each one is handled differently, and the first step is simply watching where the bees go.

Honey bees are pollinators, and many pros will try to collect a reachable colony alive and pass it to a beekeeper. That isn't always possible. A colony deep inside a wall usually has to be cut out, a very defensive colony may be treated, and carpenter bees are a treatment-and-paint job rather than a relocation. A good pro will tell you which applies before any work starts.

Whatever the situation, the two things to avoid are spraying a honey bee colony and plugging its entrance. Both leave honey and brood to rot inside the wall and send bees looking for another way out, often indoors. Keep people and pets clear of the entrance, take a photo from a safe distance, and get a pro to look.

Bees at a hive entrance in a residential yard

What kind of bee problem are you seeing?

Steady traffic at one spot

Bees flying in and out of a single gap in the siding, a soffit, a vent or a chimney all day means a colony inside. A few bees at flowers is just foraging.

A hum or a stain indoors

Buzzing inside a wall on warm afternoons, or a dark, sticky stain spreading on a ceiling, points to comb and honey in the cavity behind it.

Neat round holes in wood

Carpenter bees drill holes about the width of a finger in fascia, deck rails and porch ceilings, leaving fresh sawdust below. The big, shiny bees hovering nearby are the males, which can't sting.

What should you ask before booking?

Ask what the visit includes, how much it costs, and whether a follow-up is included. It’s also helpful to know what you’ll need to do before treatment and when you can use the area again.

Have children or pets at home? Mention them when discussing treatment. For a business, let the company know your opening hours so you can talk about a convenient time to visit.

How bee activity changes through the year

Spring: Spring is swarm season, when colonies split and clusters land on branches and eaves while scouts hunt for a cavity; carpenter bees start drilling bare wood around the same time.
Summer: Summer is when a colony that moved in during spring grows fastest, and heat can soften the comb enough for honey to show up as stains on a ceiling.
Fall: Fall is the easiest time to seal gaps, screen vents and paint bare wood, once bee traffic has slowed and before next year's scouts arrive.
Winter: Winter is quiet, but a honey bee colony inside a wall doesn't leave; it clusters and lives on stored honey, and a few bees may fly on sunny days.

Keep exploring your options

Honey Bee Assessment — Confirm whether activity is a temporary swarm or an established colony, then compare removal and relocation options with the provider.
Swarm Capture — Ask about safe capture timing, access, relocation availability, and what happens if the swarm moves before arrival.
Structural Colony Removal — Compare access, bee and comb removal, cleanup, repairs, exclusion, and written follow-up terms for colonies inside a structure.
Carpenter Bee Control — Identify active galleries, evaluate damaged wood, and compare treatment, sealing, finishing, and monitoring steps.
Contact and quote request — ask a question or request a quote.

Common questions about bee control

Will the bees be killed, or can they be moved?

It depends on the bee and where it is. A honey bee swarm or a reachable young colony is often collected alive and taken to a beekeeper. A colony deep inside a wall usually has to be cut out, a very defensive colony may be treated, and carpenter bees are treated rather than moved. Ask the pro what they plan to do and why. Nobody can promise live removal before seeing the situation.

How much does bee removal cost?

A swarm hanging in the open is the quickest and cheapest job. A colony inside a wall costs more because the comb has to be removed, the cavity cleaned and the opening sealed, and any wall or ceiling repair is usually priced on top. Ask for a quote that lists each step so you can compare it with another.

Can I just spray the bees or seal the hole?

Please don't. Spraying a honey bee colony leaves pounds of honey and brood behind to rot, stain and attract ants and rodents. Plugging the entrance traps the bees, and they look for another way out, often into a room. Carpenter bee holes can be plugged and painted, but only after the tunnels have been treated.

Are the bees dangerous?

Most honey bees ignore people unless the nest is disturbed, but a colony near a door, a play area or a walkway deserves respect, and anyone with a known sting allergy should stay well away. Carpenter bee males hover and bluff but can't sting. If a colony seems unusually defensive, say so when you call.

What's the difference between a swarm and a colony?

A swarm is a cluster of bees resting in the open, usually on a branch, while scouts look for a permanent home. It has no comb and is generally calm. A colony has built comb inside a cavity and will defend it. Swarms are quick to collect; colonies take real work to remove.

Will the bees come back after removal?

They can, if old comb or the opening is left behind, because the smell of comb draws scout bees to the same spot. Removing the comb, cleaning the cavity and sealing the gap is what keeps them from moving back in, so ask whether all three are part of the job and what happens if activity returns.

📚 More help with bee questions

Explore these guides to learn more about bees and treatment options.

EPA — Stinging Insect Managementepa.gov

EPA guidance on bees, wasps, hornets, and other stinging insects.

EPA — Pesticide Safety & Regulationepa.gov

The EPA regulates pesticide registration, safety standards, and application requirements for professional pest control products.

The CDC provides authoritative information on vector-borne and pest-related diseases, including prevention guidance.

NPMA — National Pest Management Associationnpmapestworld.org

The NPMA is the primary US pest control industry trade association, providing research, standards, and consumer education.

EPA — Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Principlesepa.gov

The EPA's official IPM framework: the four-tiered approach to sustainable pest management used by professionals nationwide.

Ready to ask about your bee problem?

Tell us what you’ve noticed and ask about an inspection or a quote. You decide whether to book after speaking with a company.

Go to contact Call +1 888 546 7983