Bumble bees can be a nuisance when they start nesting in and around your home Though not as aggressive as other stinging insects like wasps and hornets, bumble bee stings are still painful and can cause allergic reactions in some people. Fortunately, there are several effective and safe ways to get rid of bumble bees without harming other beneficial pollinators in your yard.
Understanding Bumble Bees
Bumble bees are large, fuzzy insects that have black and yellow stripes. They nest in cavities like abandoned rodent burrows, hollow logs, gaps in walls, and other small spaces. Bumble bee colonies typically have 50 to 400 workers that collect nectar and pollen.
While bumble bees don’t aggressively defend their nest they will sting if threatened. Bumble bee stings are painful and cause localized swelling and itching. People with bee venom allergies can also experience severe reactions.
It’s important not to confuse bumble bees with honey bees. Bumble bees nest in the ground whereas honey bees live in hives. Getting rid of bumble bees doesn’t impact honey bee populations that pollinate plants.
Why Get Rid of Bumble Bees?
There are a few reasons you may want to remove bumble bees from your yard:
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Prevent stings – Bumble bee nests located close to high traffic areas like doorways can pose a stinging hazard, especially if someone accidentally steps on or disturbs the nest entrance.
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Avoid structural damage – As nests expand, bumble bees may chew through wood, cardboard, and insulation. Nests inside walls or attics can cause costly damage.
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Allergy concerns – People with bee venom allergies face life-threatening reactions if stung. Eliminating nearby nests reduces risks.
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Fear and anxiety – Many people are afraid of being stung. Removing bumble bees can provide peace of mind.
Timing Bumble Bee Nest Removal
Spring and summer are the best times to remove bumble bee nests. Colonies early in the season only contain a few dozen workers and are easier to eliminate. Larger, established nests in summer can have hundreds of bumble bees.
It’s ideal to find and destroy nests while the queen bumble bee is present so the colony can’t reestablish. Avoid removing nests in late summer and fall when new queens may be present.
Only remove nests on dry, sunny days when bumble bees are most active outside the nest foraging. Cool, wet, or windy conditions mean more bees will stay inside the nest.
Safe Bumble Bee Removal Methods
When dealing with bumble bees, safety should be your top priority:
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Wear long sleeves, pants, closed toe shoes, and thick gloves. A beekeeper suit provides maximum protection.
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Work at night when bees are less active and inside the nest.
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Use extreme caution if you have bee venom allergies – consider hiring a professional instead.
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Have an epinephrine auto injector like an EpiPen on hand in case of allergic reactions.
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Carefully inspect the nest entrance before applying any treatments. Avoid agitating bees.
The following methods can effectively and safely rid your yard of bumble bees:
Insecticide Dusts
Insecticide dusts containing permethrin, deltamethrin or powdered boric acid are highly effective when applied lightly around the nest entrance. As bees pass through the dust, they ingest or contact the insecticide which eventually kills the entire colony including the queen. This stops the nest from reestablishing after treatment. Apply dusts in the evening when bees are inside the nest and let it sit overnight undisturbed.
Residual Sprays
Liquid sprays containing permethrin, bifenthrin, deltamethrin or tetramethrin are ideal for drenching nest entrances in inaccessible areas like wall voids or underground burrows. The spray leaves a residual insecticide coating that kills bees over several days as they come and go from the nest. Sprays have more immediate knockdown versus dusts if you need fast bumble bee control.
Foaming Aerosols
Foaming insecticides in aerosol cans are extremely effective for bumble bee nests in wall voids, attics, and other enclosed spaces. The expanding foam penetrates deep into nest entrances and envelops bees on contact. It also leaves a residual insecticide barrier. Look for foams containing tetramethrin, bifenthrin or permethrin.
Bee Vacuums
Bee vacuums utilize suction to remove bees from nest entrances. The bees are collected alive in a chamber attached to the vacuum. Once you’ve captured the queen, the nest won’t reestablish. This method avoids pesticide use but requires skill operating the vacuum without agitating bees. Captured bees can be killed by freezing or released away from your property.
Preventing Future Bumble Bee Nests
To help keep bumble bees from nesting on your property in the future:
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Seal any holes, cracks or small openings on structures that could provide nesting sites. Use caulk, foam sealant, wood, metal flashing, or cement.
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Install 1/8-inch metal mesh screen over vents, weep holes, and areas where utilities enter your home. This blocks entry points.
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Keep grass cut short so nests are easier to spot if they establish in lawns or fields.
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Inspect eaves, roof edges, sheds, and other outdoor structures in spring for the start of new nests and treat early before they become large, established colonies.
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Avoid planting flowering plants like lavender, salvia, and clover near areas you use frequently as these attract foraging bumble bees.
With persistence and the right removal methods, you can successfully get rid of bumble bees on your property. Just remember to always exercise caution when dealing with any stinging insect nests. Hiring a professional pest control company is recommended if you have concerns about doing it yourself safely.
BUMBLEBEES ARE GENERALLY BENEFICIAL
When young children are asked to draw a bee, bumblebees are the ones they usually choose. Although everyone likes honey bees, bumblebees are more recognized and accepted.
Bumblebees are beautiful, very strong, and the sight of them looking for pollen on flowers makes you think of spring and summer. Bumblebees are so popular that we make our own BUMBLE BEE HOUSES so that people can give them a place to live and keep them busy in their garden. Our house is 13″ long, 6″ wide and 6″ deep. On the right is a picture of our house with the roof cut off so you can see the living room inside.
Pictured below is our house with the top secured and ready to be set afield. If you want to keep bumblebees around but don’t want them to nest in your gardens, put these in safe places like under sheds or around decks.
Bumblebees are those hairy yellow and black bees generally seen flying in and around flowers. Bumblebees are a true wonder of nature. Scientists have never been able to figure out how bumblebees are able to fly. They say that the way they are built goes against the laws of physics every time they take off. Bumblebees are naturally heavy and sometimes loaded with pollen to such a degree that flying can be difficult. One thing that makes them stand out is that they do it better than any other flying insect every year.
Bumblebees are one of many flying insects that contribute to the pollination of plants and flowers. When people think of pollinators, they typically think of honey bees. But bumblebees along with a wide range of wasps, beetles and even ants all serve as pollinators too.
HOW TO BEHAVE AROUND A BUMBLEBEE NEST
Once an active nest is identified, be sure to keep children and pets away from the area. Bumblebees may die after stinging, but they are not afraid of this consequence. And while they’re out looking for food, bumblebees are calm, but when you get close to their “nest,” they become more dangerous. If you do it by accident, they don’t care. Hopefully you’ll realize what is happening before you get stung. Once 5–10 of them start to move, they are easy to spot. They aren’t hard to miss like a swarm of yellow jackets, which move faster and are only 1/3 as big.
Best Bee Killer Spray To Stops Bees Instantly – Top Repellents
FAQ
What spray kills bumble bees?
What is the best deterrent for bumble bees?
Will vinegar get rid of bumble bees?
What is the best homemade bee killer?
Should you kill bumble bees?
DO NOT Kill Bumble Bees! Bumble bees are in a state of rapid decline for several reasons we both know and have yet to confirm. For example, the rusty patched bumble bee (Bombus affinis) is considered critically endangered. It’s already lost more than 87 percent of its population in the Eastern US and Ontario.
Do mothballs kill bumble bees?
Mothballs are commonly used for getting rid of insects inside the home, but they can also be used for getting rid of bumble bees from your garden or yard. Mothballs release a toxic fume that can easily kill and repel bumble bees. You can place the mothballs in your garden and in your home to repel bumble bees effectively
Does pyrethrin kill bumble bees?
Pyrethrin is a natural insecticide derived from plants. It is highly potent and can kill a variety of insects including bumble bees. Pyrethrin powder is the best method for getting rid of bumble bees from their hive because you can easily sprinkle it inside.
Is it illegal to kill Rusty-patched bumble bees?
It’s illegal to kill the rusty-patched bumble bee species. You’ve probably heard that bee populations are in decline, especially the rusty-patched bumble bees. These are protected under the Endangered Species Act so you must have a permit to remove their nests.
Are bumble bees lazy fliers?
Bumble bees can be lazy fliers, but they’re no bumblers. In fact, there are over 350 known species in the Bombus genus that are found natively in the Americas, Europe, most of Asia, and the northern tip of Africa. Want to Let the Pros Handle It? Get a free quote from top pest control companies in your area.
Are bumblebees fuzzy?
Bumblebees are fuzzy, medium-sized, round-bodied and have yellow and black stripes. Honeybees are not fuzzy, but have some hairs on their body. They are smaller-sized, slender-bodied and have amber and black stripes. Yellow jackets are smooth-bodied, big, have a thin waist and have bright yellow stripes.