How do I tell if they're honey bees?
 

Got a bee's nest in a tree at a rental. It's near a sidewalk so I'd typically spray it with a pesticide but given the honey bee problems, I don't want to kill honey bees if I don't have to . How do I tell what kind of bees they are?

If its got 1 large hole right on the bottom and has a "swirled" paper look then they are paper wasps. If this doesnt sound like what you have then post a picture.

I've only ever seen honey bee hives in boxes or once between the roof rafters of my dad's house. They always build in layers.

I did a google image search for a wild hive and came across this photo that shows what they look like when in a tree.

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/b...856770Hive.jpg

Very interesting.:cool:

Could also be hornets. Sometimes they are very aggressive so be carefull. Here's a shot of a hornet's nest:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:CopperNest.jpg

Don't all bee's make honey.......... Assuming they are bees and not bumble bees, hornets or wasps.

You've probably got a tyipcal bee swarm that is out looking for a new home. Happens when a colony gets too big and half follow a new queen for greener pastures.

Leave them alone for a day or two and they'll find a hole in someones siding or a good tree knot hole and will be gone.

Now that is a true horror story, having a hive in your walls!:eek::eek::eek:

We did, of yellow jackets! They only had one small opening by a faucet to get in and out, so we caulked it shut, they ate their way back out after about 1 day......so, I had the brilliant idea to stick our industrial (carwash vac with 13Amps of power! :D) vacuum hose nozzle right by the hole....and powered it up....sure enough, they got sucked up as they came out, and as they came back from being (pun! :D) away from the hive......so I left the vac on for about 3 hours and came back, removed the hose from the tank while it was running, got duct tape ready, turned it off, and taped the nozzle port shut SUPER well. Checked back on it about 1.5-2 weeks later......I'd captured about 400-500 some yellow jackets....all dead in the bottom of the vac....nice thick layer....tons of them! Scariest part of all.....when I took the duct tape off the nozzle port, the part they could get at was completely covered in stingers. :eek: :eek: a LOT of stingers.

Oh, they never came back to that hole again..... :D We caulked it shut extra extra good.

These were the type of bees:

http://static.flickr.com/110/274207683_754e3c6c97_m.jpg

One pair of wings is a fly, two pairs a bee or other nasty. So my entomoligist father taught me. Lots of agressive look-a-likes out there so better to be cautious.

Just don't do what the retards on youtube do and poke at them to piss them off.:D

I'd spray them if it looks like they are making a home.

Honey Bee's, fine.

Sweat Bee's, (the photo above from pawoSD) I HATE.

We have had numerous problems with them building hives in the house.

One batch got in between the foundation and the sill plate. After I finally got them out, removing half a 5 gallon bucket of nest, I had to put a sheet metal piece to keep them out.

When we reroofed they used a ridge vent that looks like a giant brillo pad. They have eaten their way in to almost every edge, One nest I had to remove all the siding to get back to it. We could actually hear them from inside the house, in the cathedral ceiling.

Also years ago had a paper wasp nest hanging from a tree, just about eye level when sitting on the riding mower. How I didn't wack it with my head that day I'll never know, noticed it the next day.



OK to the ???

Most wasps, hornets etc I will do what I can to keep. IF the nest is not where we could come in contact with it / them to much. Most are very beneficial. Wasps eat other bugs, mostly the ones you don't want.

Bee's the same, very benefically.

The Sweat Bee's, or whatever they are called, are a pain because they come after you, climb in your drinks etc.
Ever take a swig of beer with a crunch, get rid of it quick.

IF the nest is in an area that causes to much interaction, the best thing I've found is to wait till after dark and just put a big garbage bag over it. close it up and your done.

If you want take it out to the forest and dump it quickly.

I have a "few" remote sites I have to go to throughout the year...during this time of year, hornets and wasps like to have a nest or three built up in "certain" areas that seldom get visitors...except me. :rolleyes:

I ALWAYS have a can (20 oz.) of RAID Hornet/Wasp spray in one hand and the keys to the building in the other...

They always have their nests in/near/under electrical boxes, on electrical transformers and any nook and cranny that gets little winds and rain. As pawoSD pointed out, they don't need much of an opening to stuff a whole lot of "angry" in.

One thing I've noticed...

It seems that when you first find the "nest" - and eventually eradicate the group, after you clean the "nest" off the surface where it was attached, within a short time, there's another "band" of visitors that seems to have taken over the neighborhood, usually nesting in the very spot their brethern died.

It usually takes about 4-6 massacres before they finally give up the area and quit hanging around...but they do, certainly, seem determined that they are going to lay claim to your property.

After seeing pawoSD's picture, I not so sure I'm going to sleep too soundly tonight! :eek: :rolleyes: :D

We have a built in grill in the back yard that we don't use anymore....and they take up extensive residence in there too.....our solution is to wait till dusk, spray lighter fluid or gasoline into the opening on the grill and set it on fire... :D :D A yellow jacket bake! :D They come back every single year at least once, and we torch them each time.

I couldn't help myself with the pic.... :D ;)

Now this is something I wouldn't want to find in my car..

http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060717/NEWS/607180308/1007/9112002#

Check the size of that nest in the old chevy! :eek: