Bee Hives in Trees: What You Need to Know

As a backyard beekeeper, I’m always delighted to come across a bee hive nestled in the branches of a tree when I’m out walking in nature. There’s something magical about spotting that waxy honeycomb dangling from a tree limb, knowing it’s home to thousands of busy bees.

In this article, I’ll share everything you need to know about bee hives in trees – what kind of bees build them, if they harm trees, and when you may need to remove them.

What Bees Build Hives in Trees?

The most common bee to build hives in trees is the Western honey bee, Apis mellifera. Honey bees construct wax combs suspended from branches or inside hollow trunks. A single hive can house up to 60,000 bees!

Honey bees aren’t the only species that may nest in trees. Bumblebees occasionally build small nests in abandoned rodent burrows or cavities in dead trees. And some solitary bees will make individual nests in old beetle tunnels or holes in tree bark.

But tree hives with the iconic dangling combs are the domain of honey bees Their hives are perennial, meaning the colony survives multiple years, growing each season

Do Bee Hives Hurt Trees?

Nope, bee hives cause no harm to their host trees. Honey bees have nested in the natural cavities of trees for millennia. Their hives are a normal part of the ecosystem.

In fact, bees can benefit trees in some ways. Bees help pollinate the tree’s flowers so it can produce seeds, nuts, or fruit. And the antimicrobial resin bees use to coat the inside of their hive, called propolis, may help inhibit fungal growth in the tree.

The only potential issue with bee hives in trees occurs when a tree is dangerously weakened. Heavy hives make brittle branches more prone to falling. Homeowners may want to prune trees with large hives to prevent hazards.

When Should You Remove a Tree Bee Hive?

In most cases, bee hives in trees should be left undisturbed. Honey bees are extremely important pollinators, so their hives have ecological value.

Only remove a bee hive if it poses a direct threat, such as:

• It’s located very close to your home’s entryways. Bees will become defensive if disturbed.

• Branches supporting the hive are weak and could break. Falling hives can injure people below.

• You or family members have severe bee venom allergies.

• Aggressive Africanized honey bees have moved into the hive.

If a hive must be removed, always hire a professional beekeeper. Attempting to destroy bees or their hives yourself risks triggering an attack. Beekeepers have techniques to safely relocate hives.

Signs of Bee Hives in Trees

Keep an eye out for these giveaways that a tree contains a bee hive:

• Clumps of wax honeycomb suspended from branches.

• Lots of buzzing bees flying around the tree’s flowers and entering crevices.

• Sticky sap-like residue (propolis) coating a hollow.

• Small bees with yellow and black stripes coming and going.

Attracting Bees to Nest

If you’d like to invite bees to nest on your property, here are some tips:

• Avoid cutting down old trees, snags, and brush piles where bees like to nest.

• Plant pollinator-friendly flowers and trees that will provide bees food.

• Put up wooden bee blocks with holes for solitary bees to nest in.

• Leave fallen logs and tree stumps intact for ground-nesting bees.

• Provide a water source, like a bird bath.

Having bees nest on your land helps support the local ecosystem. Observing them use tree hives is endlessly fascinating! I’d love to hear your experiences with bee hives in trees in the comments.