When you see stinging insects, such as bees and wasps, flying around the outside of your house, your first thought is of your own safety! No one wants to suffer through the agony of a wasp sting, especially if you’re allergic!
It’s important to understand the difference between the the many species of bees and wasps when dealing with an infestation around your home.
Bee or Wasp?
Honey bees are fuzzy little guys with yellow and black strips. Generally, they collect pollen and produce honey. Their nests are made of wax, and a colony can be made up of about 20,000 to 80,000 individual bees. Honey bees can only sting once, as they die after they lose their stinger.
Bumble bees live in underground colonies that usually contain hundreds of individual bees. Larger than a honey bee, they are also sport yellow and black hairs. Bumble bees especially love the warm Arizona climate and can be found most readily in the central and southern regions of the state.
Africanized killer bees are prevalent in Arizona. First discovered in the state in 1993, they have invaded many counties, including Maricopa County. Appearance-wise, Africanized killer bees don’t look much different from normal bees. You’d be hard pressed to tell the difference yourself. But they are a hundred time more aggressive than honey bees. They will defend their colony and hive from any type of threat.
A carpenter bee will make its home within the holes in your house’s walls or in any wooden structure, such as a porch or deck. Usually flying solo, carpenter bees don’t tend to create hives with other carpenter bees.
There are several different kinds of wasps, including paper wasps, mud daubers, scarab-hunter wasps, and pepsis wasps. Unlike bees, a wasp nest is made of a papery substance that is created from wood pulp. Wasps have slender bodies and are much more aggressive than bees.
Bee and Wasp Removal
Overall, it is best to never disturb any type of hive on your house or property. At times, a swarm of bees may appear on your property, but they will usually leave within a day or two once they find a more suitable place for their hive. But if you are routinely seeing bees or wasps buzzing about, our bee removal services in Phoenix can help you exterminate the hive so that you and your family can safely be outside.
