Bees getting into bedrooms has been reported in thousands of homes across the country. That’s right, bees in the house happen more often than you might think.
When bees in home start making problems, it’s important to take action to ensure everyone’s safety. Proper bee removal techniques can effectively eliminate bees from your home without causing harm to the insects.
Finding bees buzzing around your sleeping area, whether they are honey bees, bumble bees, or another species, can be scary and even dangerous. Do not worry, though, because this article will show you how to safely get rid of these unwanted guests from your bedroom.
Seeing a bee fly into your home can be alarming but generally a small number of bees that find their way inside aren’t cause for concern. However a large number of bees coming into your house likely indicates a larger issue that needs addressing. Here’s an overview of why bees enter homes, what it means, and how to handle bees in your house humanely and safely.
Why Bees Come Indoors
There are a few reasons bees may end up in your home
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Foraging for food or water – Bees forage over long distances and can mistakenly fly into homes when seeking out sweet drinks, ripe fruit, or other sugary food sources you may have sitting out. Likewise, bees looking for water may fly inside if you have pets’ water bowls or leaks inside. Just 1-5 bees coming indoors for food or water generally isn’t an issue.
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Lost scout bees – When honey bee colonies split and swarm, they send out scout bees to search for a new nesting site. These scouts can accidentally end up in homes through open windows and doors. A handful of scout bees flying around a room generally don’t indicate a colony plans to move in.
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Established hive/colony – Sometimes bees establish hives inside walls, attics, sheds, or other structures on a property. If you notice dozens or even hundreds of bees coming and going from a single area in the home, it likely means a colony has moved in and built hive somewhere on your property. This requires removal by a professional.
Dangers of Bees Indoors
While a single bee flying through the home may only cause worry, larger numbers of bees or an established hive present concerns:
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Stings – Anyone allergic to bee stings could have a severe reaction if stung inside the home. Even those not allergic may get stung if bees feel threatened.
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Structural damage – Beehives produce wax comb and honey that can stain or compromise walls and structures. Over time, weight from large hives can even cause walls to buckle or collapse.
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Inviting other pests – Bees that die or abscond from a hive leave behind wax, honey, and pollen that can attract ants, mice, cockroaches, and other unwelcome critters.
What to Do About Bees in Your House
If you spot just 1-5 bees that seem to be roaming and eventually leave, you likely don’t need to do anything. But for larger numbers of bees or those congregating in one area, action is required:
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Open doors/windows – Safely open exterior doors and windows so bees can find their way back outside. Turn off fans and ventilation systems that could trap bees indoors.
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Remove attractants – Put away open food and drinks, clean up spills, and remove pet water bowls. This eliminates reasons for bees to keep entering.
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Call a professional – If bees continue coming inside in large numbers or you suspect a hive/colony on the property, contact a beekeeper or exterminator to inspect and safely remove them. Never try removing a hive yourself.
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Seal access points – Once bees are dealt with, seal any cracks, holes, or openings bees may have used to get inside. This prevents future colonies and other insects from invading your home.
Bee Removal Services
Specialized beekeepers offer gentle and effective bee removal services, often relocating colonies intact rather than exterminating them. When hiring a pro, look for:
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Experience – Choose an established company with ample experience removing bees, specifically from structures like homes, sheds, and walls.
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Humane methods – They should focus on moving bees safely to an apiary or wild area rather than simply exterminating. This protects bees.
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Protective gear – Look for use of proper protective suits, hoods, and gloves to avoid stings during removal.
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Post-removal sealing – A good company will seal up home access points bees used after removal is complete.
Preventing Bees From Entering Your Home
You can take proactive steps to reduce bees coming indoors:
- Install screens on all windows and vents
- Caulk cracks and seal openings in walls and structures
- Keep food and drinks covered or put away
- Promptly clean up spills and messes
- Remove standing water sources
- Avoid planting flowering plants too close to doors or windows
Following these tips makes it less likely bees will be attracted to or able to enter your home. Acting quickly at the first sight of bees coming inside also helps resolve the issue before it escalates into a full-blown hive. Stay calm, take preventative steps, and enlist professional help when needed for your safety and the humane treatment of bees.
How do you tell if you have a bee’s nest in your house?
Several signs can indicate the presence of a bee’s nest in your house. First, you may notice that more bees are flying in and out of a certain room or area. You might also hear buzzing or humming sounds coming from within the walls, ceiling, or other structural elements.
In some cases, you may observe bees carrying pollen or nesting materials into small gaps or cracks. If you see honey or wax appear out of nowhere on walls or other surfaces, it could mean that there is a beehive inside your home.
Identifying the Types of Bees in Your Home
It’s important to know what kind of bees are in your home so you can take the right steps to get rid of them. We’ll talk about the different kinds of bees that might come into your home and how to spot them.
Honey bees are small, light-colored bees known for their ability to produce honey. They are typically around half an inch in size and have distinctive brown and yellow bands across their abdomen. If you see a bee that matches this description in your home, it is likely a honey bee.
Bumble bees are larger than honey bees, with a fuzzy appearance and vibrant colors. They can be easily recognized by their robust build, black and yellow stripes, and large, round bodies. If you notice a big, fuzzy bee with black and yellow markings in your home, it is most probably a bumble bee.
Carpenter bees resemble bumble bees in appearance but have a few distinctive characteristics. They have shiny abdomens, often black with yellow stripes, and might exhibit erratic flying patterns when disturbed.
Carpenter bees are also known for boring holes in wood, so if you see bees around wooden parts of your home, they are probably carpenter bees.
Termites are social insects that live in colonies and eat wood, damaging buildings’ structures. Carpenter bees live alone and dig round holes in wood to make nests for their eggs.
Termites and carpenter bees can both damage wood, but termites eat wood while bees just scratch it. Also, the damage each insect does looks different.
See also Can Termites Get in My Bed?
Sole bees, also known as solitary bees, refer to any type of bee that does not form social colonies. Solitary bees range in size, color, and behavior. If you encounter a bee in your home that doesn’t appear to be part of a larger group or hive, it is likely a sole bee.
Remember that sole bees are generally harmless and play an important role in pollination.
Scout bees are solitary bees that often fly around your home looking for potential nesting sites. They are usually smaller in size and have slender bodies with minimal hair.
Scout bees are not mean, and their solitary behavior makes them easy to tell apart from social bees like honey bees and bumble bees.
How To Kill Bees Living Inside Your Wall.
FAQ
What does a bee coming into your house mean?
Why are bees suddenly coming in my house?
What attracts bees inside a house?
Where did you find BeEs in your home?
One important question to ask yourself whenever you encounter bees inside your home is where specifically in the house did you find them. If you find a few bees in your living room, some of their possible entry points are your chimney, an open window, or a door.
How do bees get inside a house?
Small gaps or holes on the exterior of your home provide access for bees to get inside. Attics, chimneys, gaps along siding, and cracks around windows and doors are inviting if exposed. Water sources. Bees need water to cool their hives and make honey. Sources like birdbaths, leaky faucets, or rain collection barrels can draw in bees if accessible.
What happens if a bee enters a house?
Bees accidentally enter houses in search of a nesting site and die due to lethargy or hunger if they get trapped. They enter through open doors or windows, vents, gaps, or through the chimney. Some bees enter houses to permanently build a nesting site. If this happens, you should seek pest control immediately.
What happens if you don’t see a bee in Your House?
If you didn’t see the bee leave your home, it has most likely flown away. However, you can keep your windows and doors open to ensure that it does leave. If it hasn’t exited, there’s no need to worry, as the bee will only survive inside your home, without a source of nectar and pollen, for about a day. What do I do if I have bees behind my walls?
Are bees swarming your home?
Many homeowners deal with various types of bees swarming their homes at one point or another. Whether they’re ground bees, bumble bees, sweat bees, or another type of bee, having a bee colony or hive in or around your home can be concerning, especially if you’re allergic to bee stings.
Why do bees come into my house through an open window?
Often, bees enter your home accidentally through an open window. When bees look at your house from outside, they see a dark cavity, which for them is a potential location to build a nesting site. However, upon entry, they will be dumbfounded by seeing a wide, open, and lighter space instead of a dark cavity.