Around Washington
Conditions vary across the state. Choose your city below, then describe what’s happening around your home or business.
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Local bee information
Bee control in Washington
Learn what to look for around your property, explore your city, and ask about an inspection or a quote.
Bees in Washington: what to know
What to note
Where you see bees, how long it has been going on, and anything you’ve already tried are the most useful details to mention.
A useful next step
Ask about an inspection, what treatment would involve, and whether follow-up visits are included. You don’t need to identify the problem yourself before getting in touch.
Local research
Bees in Washington: what the public record shows
Before you compare quotes, it helps to know which bees actually live in Washington, when they are busiest, and what the state figures look like. Everything below links to the agency or university page it came from.
69,000 colonies
Honey bee colonies, January 1, 2026 (operations with five or more colonies)
Managed hives are the source of the spring swarms that end up in homes and trees; the state table is on page 7 of the report.
USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service2 percent
Colonies lost, January–March 2026
Percent of maximum colonies lost during the first quarter of 2026 in this state.
USDA National Agricultural Statistics ServiceBee species recorded in Washington
- Western honey bee (European honey bee) (Apis mellifera) — Managed colonies are surveyed by USDA NASS in the listed states; swarms leave hives in spring and move into wall voids, chimneys, and trees. If a colony is killed and not remove…
- Bumble bees (Bombus spp.) — Social native bees; 'Nests are initiated by a single female (queen) in the spring' in 'a small cavity like an abandoned rodent burrow' (WSU). They 'can sting multiple times; sti…
When bees are busiest in Washington
Bumble bee 'Nests are initiated by a single female (queen) in the spring' (WSU); honey bee swarms in spring.
WSU lists 'None recommended' for chemical control of bumble bees and advises avoiding broad-spectrum pesticides.
Rules that apply in Washington
For context, nationally
Sources: Honey Bee Colonies (August 2026); CDC MMWR; Apidae: Bumble Bees (Bombus spp.) — Hortsense. Figures are quoted as the source prints them. How we check our sources
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