Bee and Wasp Control (6522)

Bees are hairy flower visitors that use nectar and pollen as food. Honey bees are golden or yellow-brown in color. The natural nesting site of the honey bee is a sheltered, darkened enclosure. In addition to the hives of beekeepers, “wild” or “escaped” bee colonies nest in tree hollows or between the wall studs of buildings, within attics or in porch roofs.Homeowners also may encounter honey bee swarms, consisting of a mass of worker bees and a queen, that have clustered at an exposed location. Swarms are temporary; they may stay a few hours or a few days. Swarms should be left undisturbed; however, a colony nesting in a tree orbuilding may need to be removed.

Bumble bees are another kind of bee that may need to be controlled. Bumble bees are large, hairy black and yellow colored insects. Though bumble bees are primarily ground nesters, they will occasionally nest in debris, such as old dressers, little-used equipment stored outside or similar protected sites. Control may be difficult since getting an insecticide to the actual nest location (versus the nest opening) may present a problem. Bumble bees can sting if the nest is disturbed and care must be exercised.

For more information, please see this MAAREC publication. (Mid-Atlantic Apiculture Research and Extension Consortium)

Penn State Entomology Dept.

Rutgers University fact sheet

For more information on this subject, Please visit the College of Agricultural Sciences Publications Web site.

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