When a nest is discovered, one of the first questions people ask is: “Can you relocate them?” The answer depends on what kind of insect you’re dealing with.
Honeybees
Honeybees are the only stinging insect that can be reliably relocated. Their large, structured colonies can be carefully removed and transferred into managed hives, where they continue to thrive. Once established in an apiary, the colony produces honey and supports local pollination, making relocation a successful and sustainable option.
Bumblebees & Native Bees
Bumblebees and solitary native bees build small, seasonal colonies that are extremely fragile. These nests cannot withstand the stress of being moved, and the colony almost always collapses after relocation attempts. The best solution is to leave them undisturbed whenever possible, since they are valuable pollinators but do not pose the same long-term issues as honeybee hives.
Wasps & Hornets
Wasps and hornets are territorial and aggressive. Unlike honeybees, their colonies cannot adapt to relocation, and moving them would create significant safety risks. In situations where they are too close to people, extermination is the only option.
Why Honeybees Are Different
Honeybees stand apart from all other stinging insects because their colonies can survive and thrive after relocation. Bumblebees and native bees are too fragile to move, while wasps and hornets are dangerous and cannot be kept. This is why at Rockland Bee Removal, our focus is always on rescuing honeybees whenever possible while managing other stinging insects with safe and responsible solutions. ◆
