What type of bees do I have?
There are many types of bees, wasp and hornets here in the northeastern united states. Some of the most common species that you might encounter are the paper wasps, yellow jackets, bald faced hornets, carpenter bees, bumble bees and honeybees.
Honeybees First and foremost, if you have identified honeybees on your property, do not attempt to spray them with any type of insecticide. This will not only kill much of the colony but will also destroy the bees we need for pollination. I would recommend calling your local beekeeper to come out and capture the colony and relocate it in a safe way. Often honeybees will get into structures like trees, homes, etc...and build a colony. Often, honeybees will find a resting place in a tree or bush, they usually stay for a few days to a week and then they move on.
Paper wasp are yellow and black and carry a stinger and often mistaken for yellow jackets, the way to differentiate the two, the paper wasp has longer legs that hang down that can be seen in flight. They build nests inside and outside eaves and other structures. The nest consists of open combs made from wood fibers that they make their nest out of. Their nest size varies throughout the warmer months.
Yellow jackets are yellow and black striped, they can be very aggressive and can sting,. This type of wasp can build their nest in any structure, tree limbs, and even live in the ground. These wasps are similar in size and color to honeybees. They do transfer pollen but as protein eaters their diet consist of other bugs and even our food. Their nest size can vary from 1,500 to 15,000, depending on the climate. They usually have an established nest sometimes early as April or May, but you usually don’t start to notice them until June. If you have a nest in your home, in the cooler months they can start to push further inside the structure to keep warm. This can be a big problem because they can chew through sheetrock walls and ceilings, this makes unpleasant surprise for the homeowner and their family.
Bald faced hornets are a large wasp, mostly black with white markings on its face. They usually build their nest on trees, bushes, and eaves. Unlike the yellow jacket, these wasps usually do not enter homes. They build large paper round nest like the yellow jacket. The nest during the later part of the season can be as big as a basketball. These wasps can be very aggressive so its best to stay away. If the nest is a threat to you or your family, call a professional pest control company and they can treat and remove the nest.
Bumblebees are great pollinators and usually are non-aggressive. They are large and black and yellow in color. They can nest in structures and in the ground, they can become very aggressive and could sting if you get too close to the nest area. If you see this type of activity, its best to call a professional pest control company to take care of the problem.
Carpenter bees are often mistaken for bumble bees by their size and color. Carpenter bees are shiny black and hover like a helicopter near their nest areas. They make their nest by drilling a 1/4-inch hole in wooden decks, spindles, joist beams, facia boards etc. The male carpenter bee does not carry a stinger and are the bees hovering around the nest areas, the females carry a stinger but are not aggressive and usually stay inside the nest. These bees can cause damage to your structures, they can also be intimidating near the nest areas. If you notice these large bees hovering around an area, its best to call a professional pest control company to take care of the problem.
