There are many different types of bees in the United States and they can be categorized as either social or solitary. Social bees form large colonies and their hives contain many bees crawling over each other, creating combs, feeding their larvae, and creating honey. Unlike carpenter bees, they prefer to operate independently or in very small colonies. They have very small nests, fly alone, and make just enough food to feed their own larvae.
Below is a list of common bees found in the Eastern United States. Proper identification of bees is important. Unlike their more aggressive counterparts, wasps and hornets, bees are fairly docile. In most cases, they provide a valuable service to the environment by helping to pollinate plants and flowers and are good for your garden, crops, and honey production. Make sure if you see any of these bees in your yard to contact our Bumble bee control experts before trying to get rid of them on your own.
Other bees commonly found in the eastern US include leafcutter bees, miner bees, and mason bees. These are all solitary bees, though they do often make their nest sites close to one another and can appear to be a large colony.
Africanized honey bees, also known as “killer bees,” are a hybrid of Africanized and European bee subspecies. Originating in Brazil in the 1950s, they eventually made their way to the U.S. where they now reside in warmer states such as Florida, Texas, California, New Mexico, and Arizona. Infamous for their aggressive behavior, they will attack anything that threatens their nest.
Although it is nearly impossible to tell the difference between an Africanized honey bee and a European honey bee based on their appearance alone, some behavioral indicators may help identify this more aggressive bee species.
Africanized honey bees thrive in warm climates, making southern and western U.S. states ideal. Unlike European bees, they don't store honey for winter survival and can't live in colder areas. They build their waxy-comb hives in open spaces but may also nest in sheltered spots like meter boxes, grills, or cement blocks. If disturbed, they often abandon their hives and swarm.
Africanized honey bees are far more aggressive than typical bees. When threatened, they attack in large swarms, repeatedly stinging until the threat is neutralized. They defend a wider territory than regular honey bees and will chase threats over longer distances. If a person or animal enters their territory, the guard bees signal the colony to attack.
If you find yourself attacked by Africanized honey bees, be sure to:
Because it is challenging to differentiate Africanized honey bees from European honey bees, it is best to stay away from any hive and contact an Ehrlich pest technician who can determine what bee species you are dealing with.
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Bumble bees look a lot like carpenter bees but are usually smaller and appear to have fine hairs all over their bodies. Bumble bees are pollinators and will not bore into wood or cause damage to your home or wooden structures around the property.
Bumble bees make their nests in the ground. They will sometimes use abandoned rodent burrows and areas beneath paved patios, compost piles, woodpiles, and even in very long grass. As social insects, their nest consists of a queen, workers, and drones.
Bumble bees are generally passive and only sting when they feel threatened or mishandled. If their nest is disturbed, the colony may produce a loud buzzing sound as a warning. While female bumble bees have stingers and may use them if provoked, males do not sting. Bumble bees are typically only a concern if they nest in high-traffic areas near homes or businesses, and the main risk comes from allergic reactions to their stings.
Our treatment approach begins with understanding the bumble bee species and its habitat. Our technicians are local to the communities they service and are familiar with the specific species of bees that can threaten residents and businesses.
You can also make your property less appealing to bumble bees by removing or filling preferred nesting sites, such as wood piles, abandoned rodent burrows, voids under patio pavers, and long grasses.
Unlike other bees that live in colonies, carpenter bees are mainly solitary. They are pollinators, foraging for pollen to feed to their young. While some species prefer to build their nests in natural structures such as trees, others will target man-made structures such as decking, fencing, and siding, which can become an issue for home and business owners.
Female carpenter bees make their nests by boring holes into wood. A nest entrance will exhibit a perfectly round hole and a small pile of sawdust. In the spring, females will search for nests left by earlier generations or excavate new ones, preferably in soft, untreated wood. The tunnels they excavate provide shelter for their eggs and larvae and may include several brood chambers. A new generation of adults will emerge in late summer.
Carpenter bees are generally non-aggressive, and only the females can sting. Males may act territorial and try to intimidate threats, but they cannot sting.
Carpenter bees drill large round holes in wood to lay eggs, which can damage homes and wooden structures. Over time, repeated nesting in the same area can cause significant structural damage. These holes also expose the wood to moisture and rot, and the larvae may attract woodpeckers, leading to further damage.
An initial inspection of your property can determine if there are any contributing factors that make your home or business a more attractive nesting site for carpenter bees. Untreated or unpainted wood surfaces are more susceptible, as are prior carpenter bee nesting sites. Additionally, your property’s proximity to a carpenter bee's natural habitat may increase the likelihood of becoming a nesting site.
If there is an active carpenter bee nest on your property, Ehrlich is here to help. Call to schedule an appointment with one of our carpenter bee technicians.
Honey bees are one of the most common types of bees that people encounter in their daily life. They are yellow and black with slender bodies and often are mistaken for hornets or wasps. Honey bees are not usually aggressive, but they have been known to swarm around perceived threats to their nests and will sting to fend them off. Honey bees will also swarm in order to establish a new colony.
Known for living in hives and having a very ordered society, honey bees are pretty social insects and are essential to the environment as pollinators. However, when honey bees build their nests in or around homes and businesses, they can become a potential health risk - especially to people who are allergic or are perceived to be a threat to the colony.
Honey bees create nests from wax they secrete, often preferring hidden locations to keep their hive safe. In the wild, they usually nest in hollow logs or trees but may also build nests in attics or chimneys. They are most active during summer and late spring when new queens leave their colonies with thousands of workers to establish new nests.
Honey bees are the only social bees with perennial colonies, surviving year after year. Their colonies range from 20,000 to 80,000 members. As key pollinators in agriculture, they gather pollen in specialized "pollen baskets" on their legs while foraging. Honey bees are generally docile, only becoming aggressive if their hive is threatened. Only female workers are capable of stinging and are not likely to sting when foraging for nectar and pollen in the backyard. Honey bees will sting to protect their hive, but each bee can sting only once, and then it dies.
If you are allergic to bee stings, honey bees pose a serious health risk; otherwise, the primary concern is pain from their sting.
With a thorough inspection of your home or business, our technicians can pinpoint any potential entry points that honey bees may access. Holes that are a quarter of an inch or larger should be sealed, and inspections should be done before swarming season to avoid the establishment of a colony. Swarming season usually begins in May in the Northeast but may start as early as April or even earlier in warmer, southern areas. If you do have a swarm outside your home or business, contact us to have it removed safely.
If you’ve had honey bees in the past, especially in areas that were not easily accessible, you must ensure that all the honeycomb has been removed. This will help to prevent future infestations as pheromones left on the honeycomb may attract future swarms.
Africanized honey bees, known as "killer bees," are the most aggressive bee species. They are highly defensive of their hives and will attack in large numbers if they feel threatened. Although their venom is similar to European honey bees, their aggressive behavior makes them more dangerous to humans and animals. Most other bee species, such as bumble and honey bees, are generally non-aggressive and sting only when provoked.
Bumble bees are often regarded as one of the friendliest bee species. They are non-aggressive and rarely sting unless they feel directly threatened. These bees are important pollinators for various flowering plants and can usually tolerate human presence.
Honey bees are also non-aggressive and focused on gathering nectar and pollen, only becoming defensive if their hive is disturbed.
In addition to these social bees, hundreds of species of solitary bees, such as leafcutter, mason, and carpenter bees, are generally even less aggressive than honey bees and bumble bees. These solitary bees are also valuable pollinators, working independently rather than in colonies, which reduces the likelihood of defensive behavior.
Many bee species, such as honey bees and bumble bees, exhibit social behavior. They live in colonies with a queen, worker bees, and drones. In these colonies, bees work together to build and maintain their hives, gather food, and care for the young. This social structure is key to the success of species like honey bees, where worker bees cooperate to pollinate plants and produce honey. Solitary bees, like carpenter bees, do not live in colonies and instead nest alone.
A bee dying or tired may appear lethargic, moving very slowly or not at all. Tired bees often rest on flowers or the ground, sometimes struggling to fly. A tired bee can be helped by offering a small drop of sugar water to give it energy. Dying bees may have tattered wings or appear disoriented. If the bee doesn't respond to sugar water, it may be near the end of its life.
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