Bee Removal: Exterminating Bees From House Siding

Bees in your house siding can be a real nuisance, and even dangerous if you or someone in your household is allergic to bee stings. If you're tired of the constant buzzing, swarming, and stinging, there are several ways to get rid of bees in your house siding.

Locate the nest(s) by observing the bees' entry and exit points

To locate the nest(s), you will need to observe the bees' entry and exit points. This is because, while seeing bees enter and exit your siding confirms their presence, it doesn't pinpoint the exact location of their nest. Moreover, you might be dealing with multiple hives, not just one.

To locate the hive(s), observe the bees during their active hours, which is typically during the daytime. Track their entry and exit points, making note of any concentrated activity areas. Inspect all sides of your home for potential bee entry points. Mark these suspected locations with tape or a small rock for easy reference. This will help ensure you've identified all the areas where bees might be entering.

Bees are active throughout the day, so these points shouldn't be hard to find. Look at all sides of your house to locate all the nests. If you find multiple entrances and exit areas, mark the points with tape or a small rock so you can remember them later.

Once you've located the nest(s), you can decide on the best course of action to take.

Seal off entry points with metal screens and caulk

If you're looking to prevent bees from nesting in your house siding, sealing off entry points with metal screens and caulk is a highly effective method. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you get started:

Step 1: Identify Entry Points

The first step is to identify potential entry points for bees. Bees can enter through small openings, such as cracks and gaps in the exterior of your house. Focus on areas such as windows, doors, pipes, vents, and utility lines. Scout for any openings larger than a quarter of an inch, as these are potential gateways for bees.

Step 2: Prepare the Necessary Materials

To seal off the identified entry points, you'll need metal screens and caulk. Metal screens act as a barrier, preventing bees from chewing through. Caulk, a type of sealant, is used to fill in cracks and gaps, ensuring a tight seal. You can find these materials at your local hardware store.

Step 3: Seal the Entry Points

Now it's time to seal off those entry points! Start by cutting the metal screen to fit the identified openings. Use a utility knife or scissors to cut the screen to the appropriate size. Be sure to wear protective gloves when handling the metal screen to avoid any injuries.

Next, apply a generous amount of caulk around the edges of the opening. Press the metal screen firmly into the caulk, ensuring it adheres well. This combination will create a durable barrier that bees won't be able to penetrate.

Step 4: Maintain and Inspect Regularly

Your work doesn't stop after sealing the initial entry points. It's crucial to regularly inspect your home's exterior for any new potential entry points. Bees are persistent and may seek out alternative ways to enter your siding. Additionally, caulk can deteriorate over time, creating gaps that bees can exploit.

By staying vigilant and promptly sealing any new openings, you can effectively deter bees from nesting in your house siding.

Additional Tips:

• Keep your yard clear and primped: Bees are attracted to lush vegetation, so maintaining your garden can help deter them.
• Remove bee pheromones: If bees have previously nested in your siding, their pheromones can attract new colonies. Use soap and water to remove all traces of their presence, including wax and honey.
• Seek professional help: If you're unsure about handling this task, don't hesitate to contact a professional pest control service or a local beekeeper for assistance.

Use a bee smoker to deter the bees

If you're looking to remove bees from your house siding without killing them, a bee smoker is an effective tool to use. This method is more difficult and requires more finesse than other methods, but it is a humane way to deal with unwanted bees.

Bee smokers are devices used by beekeepers to puff smoke onto their bees. The smoke does not hurt the bees but instead masks their alarm pheromones, preventing them from going into attack mode. It also encourages bees to start eating their honey, as they assume there is a fire and that they need to prepare to evacuate the hive.

To use a bee smoker, you will need to purchase one from a hardware store, along with pellets or other fuel. Good fuel options include untreated pine needles, cones, and shavings; dried grass or hay; raw cotton; and wood pellets. Avoid using any fuel that has been treated with chemicals, as this can be toxic to bees.

Before you begin, put on protective clothing, such as gloves, thick clothing, and a mask. You should also have a box with a lid and a flat-head screwdriver or scraping tool.

To light the bee smoker, crumple up a piece of paper and place it in the bottom of the smoker. Light the paper, then fill the smoker with fuel. Apply a few puffs of smoke to your skin to ensure it is not too hot—if it is too hot for you, it is too hot for the bees. Lightly smoke one side of the hive before opening the cover. Avoid smoking all sides of the hive, as this will make the bees feel trapped.

After smoking, wait 30 seconds to allow the smoke to affect the bees. Avoid over-smoking the hive, as this can drive the bees away. A few short puffs every three to four minutes will be enough.

Once the bees have been smoked out, you can use a tool to gently scrape the hive into the box and relocate it somewhere far away. When the bees return, they will realise their hive has been moved and will look for a new home.

Using a bee smoker is a safe and humane way to remove bees from your house siding. By following these steps, you can effectively deter bees and prevent them from returning.

Apply insecticide at night when the bees are dormant

If you have bees in your house siding, it is best to apply insecticide at night when the bees are dormant. Bees are valuable creatures, so it is always best to try to remove them safely. If you can, contact a local beekeeper, who may be able to help you remove the bees for free. If you are unable to do this, or if the bees are too dangerous to approach, you may need to resort to insecticide.

Before applying insecticide, it is important to locate all the nests. Spend time observing the bees' habits and try to note all the specific locations where they enter and exit the siding. Bees are active throughout the day, so these points should be easy to find. Look at all sides of your house to locate all the nests and mark the entry and exit points with tape or a rock so that you can find them later.

Once you have located all the nests, wait until after dark to apply the insecticide. Bees are generally dormant and less aggressive at night, and they tend to congregate in the same place. Applying insecticide at night is the best way to ensure that it reaches and affects as many bees as possible.

When the bees are sleeping, apply the powdered insecticide to the entrance and exit points of the nests. Make sure to cover all the points that you marked earlier. If the entry point is close to the ground, also apply some insecticide to the ground to target any bees that try to crawl away.

It will take about a week for the powdered insecticide to kill all the bees. As the bees travel in and out of the nests, they will carry the insecticide with them, spreading it to other bees in the nest. If the breed you are targeting has a queen bee, she will also be killed. Eventually, all the bees will be dead due to the spread of the powder.

Remove pheromones with soap and water to prevent attracting a new hive

Once you've gotten rid of the bees living in your house siding, you'll need to remove their pheromones because they'll attract a second hive. To do this, you should wash the affected areas with soap and water, ensuring that you remove all traces of wax and honey.

Soap and water should be effective at removing bee pheromones. If you've been stung, washing the area with soap and water can prevent more bees from targeting that spot.

You can use a bucket of water with a drop of bleach and a small squirt of dish soap. Use a dishwashing brush to scrub the affected areas. If you can't scrub the area, you can try spraying it liberally with mosquito repellent.

It's important to remove all traces of wax and honey, as even the slightest traces of previous swarming will attract a new colony.

Frequently asked questions