Stinging Insects

Identification Guide

Browse this page to discover what most accurately represents the type of
bees, wasps, or hornets you may be encountering.

Honeybees (Swarm)

April – July

10,000 – 30,000 Bees

Generally Docile

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20190621 160203 1024x768 — Thousands of bees flying in the air eventually congregating into a cluster.

IMG 4577 1024x768 — Bee swarms may be attached to anything, such as this fire hydrant.

2017 06 11 17.26.06 1024x576 — Once the bees settle, they will stay together until they find a new home.

20200507 142030 1 1024x768 — Bee swarms are usually pretty docile however, if you see one stay away and call a beekeeper.

20200508 125729 12 1 1024x768 — Basketball size cluster of bees attached to a surface with lots of bee activity around it.

IMG 5329 1 1024x576 — To have a swarm removed, an experienced beekeeper must be contacted.

Honeybee (Hive)

April – November

10,000 – 60,000 Bees

Defensive near Hives

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2019 04 12 12.06.40 1 1024x768 — Honeybee hive are in a cavity such as a home or hollow tree. You may not see much besides a hole with many bee going in and out.

2016 07 29 10.09.13 5 — In order for us to determine where a hive is located we use a thermal imaging camera. See opened hive →

IMG 20190722 WA0020 — Honeybee hives can get very big. If you come across honeybees, call your local beekeeper. These hive can grow over 10ft in size.

SAM 4299 1024x768 — Once we cut opened the hive we begin removing all the bees and honeycomb.

SAM 4280 1024x768 — Honeybees near their hives can be aggressive, so stay away and call you local bee expert.

20200505 153334 1 1024x768 — Hives are started inside empty voids. It could be anywhere, usually in a home void or hollow tree.

Yellow Jacket Wasp

July – November

4,000 – 5,000 Wasps

Very Aggressive

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20200802 180729 Scaled 1 1024x768 — Yellow jackets usually create their nested inside an empty cavity or underground.

20200717 135507web 1024x768 — They choose a sheltered place, so they can be inside your wall or anywhere else.

AdobeStock 281005902 1024x683 — Yellow Jacket wasps are very aggressive if you see them entering into a specific area on your property, stay far away and call you local bee & wasp expert.

20220930 121138 1024x768 — At the end of the summer hives can get very large and aggressive. Its best to get it removed before that happens.

20210711 131319 1 1024x768 — Sometimes they will make their nest out in the open. Nests look roundish and are grey or brown in color.

44 2 1024x678 — If you see them going underground there is probably a hive there. Stay far away until its completely removed.

Bald-Faced Hornet

July – November

200 – 1,000 Hornets

Very Aggressive

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20190703 134227 1024x768 — Bald-faced Hornet nests are grey or brown and look papery with a hole towards the bottom.

20200827 134957 1024x768 — Hornet nests are dangerous to be close to. If you come across one, stay far away and call your local Hornet expert right away.

20180529 180801 916x1024 — Bald-faced Hornets are black in color with white patches on their head and abdomens.

20210823 125544 1024x768 — Hornets nests can grown larger than a basketball size, its best to get them removed right away.

20200809 153228web 1024x768 — Nests can be attached to anything they are usually under a sheltered area.

20200810 155302 1024x768 — The paper nests are made by chewing wood off decaying trees or structures.

Paper Wasp

April – October

10 – 100 Wasps

Aggressive If Disturbed

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AdobeStock 342754154 1024x687 — Paper Wasps create small umbrella like paper hives. A nest contains between 10 – 100 wasps.

20200810 162104 1024x768 — Paper Wasps can sting and may become aggressive if threatened.

20220721 123929 1024x768 — There are many species of Paper Wasps they are mostly black and yellow but may have red or brown markings as well.

Carpenter Bee

April – September

1 – 5 Bees per Nest

Not Aggressive

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Carpenter2 1024x681 — Carpenter bees live inside wood, they drill holes and tunnel inside leaving damage in the wood. A large infestation can leave many holes with lots of damage.

20220523 135330 1024x768 — Bee are large loud and intimidating. However, they usually don’t harm people.

20210705 122444 1024x768 — Holes are usually round but the bees can make them larger over time.

20200503 120753 1024x768 — Bees are usually attracted to older wood that is not painted or sealed.

20230509 122708 1024x768 — If you see wood dust under the hole that is a sign of an active infestation

20210520 122736 1024x768 — If not taken care of, bees will return year after year to the same place.

Bumblebee

April – September

25 – 450 Bees

Defensive near Hives

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20200806 100838 1024x768 — Bumble Bees are calm and to themselves. They live their life’s pollinating and are beneficial bees. Bumblebees usually don’t harm people.

ENT 84 Fig2 Bb Nest MaLisa Spring 1024x683 — Bumblebees nest underground, in leaves or in secluded spaces.

SAM 4378 1024x768 — There are many species of Bumble Bees. Some are more yellow while some are closer to white.

Cicada Killer Wasp

July – September

1 – 3 Wasps per hole

Not Aggressive

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20210808 135157 1024x768 — Cicada Killers live in the ground. They dig borrows on sandy dry soil and they make a quarter size hole entrance.

20190806 181416 1024x485 — Cicada Killer Wasps are big wasps they fly around the nests during the day. They can sting, but they usually don’t harm people.

L2DRCNQ4DNCV3ATRFYU3UDIILY 1024x682 — Cicada Killer Wasps hunt Cicadas. Once they sting the cicada they bring it to their nest where they lay their eggs on it. The young will hatch using the dead Cicada as food.

Ground Nesting / Miner Bee

March – August

1 – 5 per nesting tunnel

Not Aggressive

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20220526 153454 1024x768 — Miner Bees live in the ground. They dig borrows on sandy dry soil and they make small ant like dirt mounds.

20210406 131015 1024x768 — In one particular area there can be just a few or thousands of holes.

1420 — Miner Bees look similar to Honeybees. They are gentle and are very docile.

European Hornet

July – November

200 – 800 Hornets

Very Aggressive

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Hornets Vespa Crabro Nest Royalty Free Image 1590010147 1024x678 — European Hornets are very large Hornets and can deliver a painful sting.

20210720 134519 1024x768 — Nests are located in protected cavities such as wall or hollow trees.

Jean Yves Matroule Ae4y7UOdtOQ Unsplash 1024x718 — Nests are found by the sight of hornets constantly going in & out of a cavity.

Still Unsure?

Unsure what type of insects are taking residence on your property?
You may give us a call or send us a bee removal request using the link below.

Bee & Wasp Removal Request Form