Frequently Asked Questions About Bee Removals

The surest sign is a steady line of bees flying in and out of one spot: a gap in the stucco, a weep screed, a vent, a roof tile or the corner of a window frame. You might also hear humming or buzzing inside the wall, or find bees indoors around lights or outlets. With older hives you can get dark stains or honey seeping through. See early signs of a hive and how to find the entry point.

A low, steady hum, louder on warm afternoons, that you feel more than hear if you put your ear or your hand on the wall. A big colony can sound like a motor running somewhere off in the distance, or a fan. If you can hear the hum from across the room, the colony is probably big. See what a bee infestation sounds like.

Honey bees don’t chew through wood or drywall, but a hive left in a structure does real damage over time. Comb and honey can weigh many pounds, honey can soak through drywall and ceilings, and if the colony dies or gets sprayed, the comb melts and rots. That brings in ants, roaches, wax moths and the next swarm. See hidden damage bees can cause.

No. Spraying makes the colony defensive, rarely reaches the comb, and leaves dead bees and honey inside the wall to rot. Sealing the hole traps the bees inside, and they’ll often find another way out, sometimes into your living space. Leave the entrance open and call for a live removal. See bee removal vs. extermination.

No. Once a colony has built comb and is raising brood, that’s home. It keeps growing every season and can throw off swarms of its own. A swarm resting out in the open is different and often moves on within a day or two, but a colony inside a structure has to be removed.

I find the colony, open the wall, soffit or roof tiles over it, and take the bees out alive along with all of the honeycomb, honey and wax. Then the cavity gets cleaned and the entry point sealed, so the smell doesn’t pull a new swarm back in. The bees go to a vetted local beekeeper. See bee hive removal and extraction and repairs.

They can if the comb gets left behind or the entry stays open, because the smell of wax and honey brings in scout bees from new swarms. So a proper removal takes out all of the comb, cleans the cavity and seals the entry point.

Yes, for structural removals. When I take a hive out of a wall, roof, chimney or other part of a structure, it comes with a 6-month guarantee: if honey bees move back into the same spot within 6 months, I come back and take care of it at no charge. Swarm removals aren’t guaranteed, because nobody can control whether a new swarm lands on your tree or fence later. Wasp nest removals come with a 30-day guarantee. The guarantee covers the bees, not the repair. After a removal I patch the opening, depending on the condition of the structure. It’s a patch, not a structural rebuild, and since Eli the Bee Guy is not a licensed contractor, repairs carry no structural warranty.

Yes, for a day or two. Foragers that were out during the removal come back to where the entrance used to be. With no queen and no comb they can’t start a new colony, so they scatter. If you’re still seeing steady traffic after several days, call me and I’ll check the area.

An experienced beekeeper can collect a swarm hanging in the open, but a hive built inside a wall, roof or meter box isn’t a DIY job. You’d be opening up the structure right next to tens of thousands of defensive bees, getting out every bit of comb, and sealing the cavity properly. Without the right protective gear and experience, you’re very likely to get stung many times. See what’s safe to do yourself.

A beekeeper who does live removals. An exterminator kills the bees but usually leaves the comb and honey inside the structure, and that leads to rot, stains, pests and repeat swarms. A live removal takes out the bees and the comb, and the colony gets rehomed.

Not every beekeeper does removals, though. See beekeeper for bee removal for what to ask before you hire one.

Yes. Wasps and yellow jackets don’t get relocated like honey bees, but I remove their nests from eaves, walls, the ground and play areas, with food-grade products and no pesticides. Paper wasp and mud dauber nests are $250, which covers up to 8 nests. A yellow jacket nest that has to be dug out of the ground is $375. Wasp removals come with a 30-day warranty. See wasp removal, yellow jacket removal and how to tell them apart.

Often the same day. I’m open 24 hours Monday through Saturday across Orange County, the Inland Empire and Los Angeles County, and on Sundays I still answer calls and texts. If bees are inside the house or someone is allergic, call (626) 487-6052 right away or see emergency bee removal.