It can be alarming to find bumble bees buzzing around or lying dead inside your home. If this is happening to you, don’t panic – there are some logical explanations and solutions
Potential Causes
There are a few common reasons bumble bees may be entering your house:
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A nest inside the house – Bumble bees often nest in cavities like attics walls and crawl spaces. If a colony has set up inside your home, workers will fly in and out gathering nectar and pollen. As bees age, you may find more of them dying inside.
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Looking for a nesting site – In spring and summer, bumble bee queens emerge from hibernation and start new colonies. They will explore cavities in houses, sheds, trees, etc. as potential nest locations. If you find just a few bees over a short period, this is likely the reason.
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Attracted to food and drink spills – Bees are naturally drawn to sugary substances. Spilled soda, juice, syrup, etc. can lure bees in through open doors or windows. Likewise, pet food bowls left out may attract them.
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Vent entrances – If bees keep appearing in certain rooms, they may be gaining access through vents for stoves, bathroom fans, or dryers, especially if the vent leads outside.
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Damaged screens – Rips or holes in window screens provide an easy entrance for bees to come inside your home.
What to Do About Bumble Bees Indoors
If you want to get rid of bumble bees in your house, here are some effective solutions:
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Find and remove indoor nests – Locate nests in attics, walls, etc. and humanely remove them. You can hire a professional bee removal service or DIY. After the nest is gone, seal the entrance so more bees can’t get in.
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Close up possible entrances – Check all vents, screens, and gaps around windows. Use caulk, steel wool, or other materials to close off any openings wider than 1/4 inch that bees can use to enter your home.
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Make indoor areas less appealing – Be diligent about cleaning up spills of sugary drinks, wiping counters, putting away pet food, and taking out trash that may contain food debris. Don’t leave dishes out overnight.
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Set up outdoor bee houses – Give bumble bees looking for a home alternative nesting spots outside your house. You can buy or make simple bee houses for this purpose.
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Avoid swatting at bees – They will become aggravated and more likely to sting. Stay calm and gently guide them back outside instead.
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Use fans – Direct fans towards open doors or windows. The breeze will deter bees from entering.
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Contact a beekeeper – If the issue persists, reach out to a local beekeeper, who may safely remove bees and relocate colonies. Never attempt to destroy a nest yourself.
When to Worry About Bumble Bees at Home
Seeing an occasional bumble bee now and then in your home is normal. But if you notice bees appearing in large numbers or on a regular basis, that is a sign of a larger issue that needs addressing. Sting incidents also indicate a serious problem.
Here are some warning signs that require further action:
- More than 10 bees inside per day
- Bees clustered together in one area
- Constant buzzing sounds coming from a specific location
- Multiple stings from indoor bees
- Bees appearing regularly over several days or weeks
In these cases, have a professional inspect your home to find and remove nests. Bumble bee colonies only grow over the summer, so large populations inside houses must be eliminated before they expand further.
Stinging Risks and Prevention
While not aggressive, bumble bees will sting in self-defense if threatened. Indoors, they are more likely to sting since they can become trapped and aggravated. Use caution and avoid swatting if bees are present.
Here are some tips to prevent stings:
- Remain calm and move slowly around bees
- Do not trap them against your body or block their flight path
- Carefully catch and release bees with a cup and paper
- Keep nest locations undisturbed
- Have professional removal done when necessary
- Allow bees a way to exit if inside
Painful swelling or allergic reaction are signs of a serious bee sting allergy requiring emergency care. However, normal reactions can be treated at home with remedies like ice, aloe vera, antihistamines, etc.
Stings are best avoided by addressing the reasons bumble bees enter your house in the first place. Taking preventative measures will allow you to peacefully co-exist with these important pollinators.
Can the Bumblebee Conservation Trust come and move a bumblebee nest for me?
No, we are not able to move bumblebee nests or recommend anyone else who can.
It can be hard to find bumblebee nests that aren’t already in a bird box or something similar, and moving them could hurt both the bees and the structure they’re in.
Bumblebees don’t damage buildings, and the nest isn’t very big, so it will just dry out when the bees leave. The easiest thing to do is to wait until they are done nesting. If you don’t want another queen to find and use the same spot, you can take steps to stop that from happening.
What size is a bumblebee nest?
Bumblebee nests vary in size depending on the species and time of year.
At the start of the nest the queen is alone. The nest will get bigger over the next few weeks as she raises batches of eggs. The eggs hatch into worker bumblebees that help with foraging and taking care of the nest. A nest that has been there for a few months can hold up to 400 bumblebees and be about the size of a small football. However, some species have much smaller nests with only around 50 workers at their most active. A honeybee hive can contain 50,000 bees so bumblebee nests are very small in comparison.
How to make a Bumblebee Home
FAQ
What does it mean if a bumble bee comes in your house?
How do I get rid of bumble bees in my house?
What attracts bumble bees to your house?
How do bumble bees get in the House?
Bumble bee queens might be looking for a snug place to overwinter. But how do bees get in the house, and once inside, why do they struggle to find their way out again? The most common means of entry to your property, is accidental entry via an open door or window.
What should I do for five bee stings?
If you get multiple bee stings at the same time, the venom from each bee may accumulate in your body and cause you to be extremely unwell with symptoms including nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. There is also a higher chance that you may develop a severe reaction due to the excessive venom toxins and you should attend the Emergency Department immediately for treatment.
Do bumble bees live in house eaves?
Take into account that bumble bees only have a certain tolerance to cool temperatures. Active bumble bee nest of Bombus hypnorum in house eaves. This nest will naturally decline as the colony dies out. Usually, the communication I receive from visitors to the website concerns bumble bee nests.
When do bumble bees enter your house?
A different scenario where bees enter your house temporarily is during the winter season. Bumble bee queens will usually hibernate until the next season begins. Instead of trying to maintain a heated temperature inside the hive like honeybees, they would often find a place to snuggle, like a dark, damp room.
Do bumble bees swarm?
There might be a bumble bee nest somewhere inside your house (such as in the ceiling) hence you are seeing them in the house. As they get older they start dying so you are probably witnessing some dead bees too. Bumble bees do not swarm like honey bees. They have smaller nests and have on average about 100 individuals.
Do bumble bees die?
As they get older they start dying so you are probably witnessing some dead bees too. Bumble bees do not swarm like honey bees. They have smaller nests and have on average about 100 individuals. All bumble bee workers will die before winter so you may not see them after October.