To bee or not to bee?
When it comes to bees and wasps, there’s a world of difference. Honey bees are our friends; much of our agricultural system can’t survive without them and they produce the delicious honey we love. If it’s honey bees causing your problem, the answer is not to kill them but to relocate them. Don’t try to do this yourself; their honey might be sweet but their stings are not.
Most of us agree that wasps and other bees menacing us in our homes or places of business don’t deserve the same consideration as honey bees. They are best exterminated. That’s where we come in.
Bees and wasps of various kinds may be difficult to distinguish by sight, but here are a few of the species you may need to have removed or killed:
Paper wasps construct nests of a paper-like material which is a mixture of finely chewed wood fragments and salivary secretions of the wasps. Paper wasps typically build their umbrella-shaped nests under eaves and ledges. The nests are often located out of reach and removal is best accomplished by professionals.
Like paper wasps, yellow jackets construct paper nests. Yellow jackets are medium to large wasps that are yellow (or white) with black markings. They can nest in trees, shrubs, buildings, or most commonly in the ground.
Baldfaced hornets are large insects that make paper nests in trees. They have a white face and black and white markings on their body similar to yellow jackets.
Bumble bees are robust bees that nest in buildings and on the ground. They are yellow and black with a hairy abdomen.
Carpenter bees are similar to bumble bees but nest in wood and have a shiny abdomen. They can be difficult to tell apart.
Did you know?
The next time you stir a spoonful of honey into your cup of tea, remember that a little honey bee must work her whole life to produce a half a teaspoon of honey.