Let me guess. You found this page because you think you may have a bee problem, but you’re not sure. Don’t feel bad, you are not alone. We get lots of calls from customers who can’t figure out where the bees are coming from.
Usually the confusion starts when people notice one or two bees in the house. “Where did the bees come from?” they ask. Often they believe the bees may have flown in through an open window or door. But then the next day, a few more get inside! That’s when we usually get the call for help.
So what do you do when you think you might have a bee problem. What should you do and what should you check for?
The first thing I always ask our customers is “What room are the bees getting into?”. This is important because often it is in the living room, where there may be a fireplace. Bees love to get inside chimneys and build hives.
If the bees are getting inside through the fireplace, they usually will fly directly to a nearby window or skylight. You won’t necessarily see them inside the fireplace. Bees are attracted to sunlight, so they will naturally gravitate towards the windows.
If you think you may have bees in your chimney, its better to listen than to look. I often tell my customers to take a seat next to the fireplace. Turn off all radios, appliances, etc. Make it as quiet as possible in the room…and just listen. Often times you can hear the buzzing if you just sit quietly.
So what if you cant hear anything? What if there is no fireplace? What then?
If bees are getting inside your house and you don’t have a chimney, the next step would be to check the vents. It could be a stove vent, a bathroom vent, or even a dryer vent. If the bees are near the kitchen windows, bathroom windows, or laundry room, its time to check out the vents. Again, listening is key. Make it as quiet as possible and put your ear to the wall near the vent. Notice any buzzing?
OK, so maybe you still can’t hear anything from the inside. What then?
Answer: It’s time to grab a pair of binoculars (if possible) and head outside!
The next step in figuring out if you have a bee problem is a perimeter check of the outside of your home. This means you will need to walk entirely around the house and look to see if bees are entering the house another way.
- Attic Vent Holes – These are the holes that allow the attic to breathe and the heat to escape. The screen on the holes are usually 1/4 inch, which give the bees plenty of room to squeeze through. Once they get in the attic, they will usually build a hive on the under side of the roof. you wont be able to see the hive or swarm on the inside, but you will notice flight activity going in and out of the vent hole.
- Bathroom, Dryer, and Stove Vents – Even if you couldn’t hear buzzing inside, always check these vents for bee activity. From a distance you wont notice loads of bees. Instead you will see a dozen or two, flying in and out of the vent. The majority of the swarm or hive will be on the inside of the wall. If you have a 2nd story, break out those binoculars if you have them. From a distance they may look more like flies than bees.
- Gaps, Cracks, and Holes in the wall – This includes the gaps under the eaves and/or gaps in or under the tile of the roof. Also look for areas where cable or electrical wires enter the structure. Often times the holes where the wires enter the structure have not been sealed off with silicone. These gaps allow bees to enter and make themselves at home. Problem is they won’t pay rent!
- Chimney Exterior – OK, so maybe you didn’t hear them inside the fireplace. It’s still best to be safe and grab those binoculars. Look at the top of the chimney. Look at the area where the roof line meets the chimney…both on top of the roof, and under the eaves.
- Pipes, gutters, etc – Look where gas pipes enter the house. Also check the rain gutters to see if there are holes where the gutters attach to the house. Basically you need to look for any small space or void where a bee could fly into. Again you are looking for flight activity…a dozen or two flying in and out of the gap or hole repeatedly.
So there you have it. A checklist of what to look for if you suspect you have bees that need to be removed. We hope this checklist will be helpful in figuring out if you have a bee problem. Share below if you were able to find the bees using this checklist. We’d love to know if it’s helpful (or not).
I had no idea that bees could get in from some of these places. I figured that gaps and cracks in walls would be pretty straight forward, but bees getting into my home is a huge phobia that I have, so this was a great checklist for me to go and make sure it’s all working well. Either that or make sure they’re all cleaned out. Thanks for taking the time to share.
We have been getting 3 bees a day on average all winter…I know we are infested somewhere but we live in an old historical home and its quite big. It would be impossible to seal all holes and entry areas…in the Spring the siding is coming off to try and find the hive. Nothing in the attic, or fireplace…could they be living between the floors?
Hi Lauren,
It is possible for bees to build a hive in between two floors. One trick you might try is to use a heat sensing camera. If you don’t have access to one, another trick would be to run your hands on the ceiling below, or on the floor above. If the hive is large enough, you may be able to feel the heat radiating from the ceiling or floor. You can also try this trick on the walls near where the bees are entering the structure.
There are many bees in my room… I don’t know where they come from and why they want to stay. How do i get rid of them?
Hey Carla, If bees are getting inside your room, there may be an active beehive located in the attic or wall void of your home. The other possibility is that the bees might be entering through an open screen or door because they are attracted to a scent (like citrus, honey, or lavender scented bathroom spray). There are many other reasons why this could be happening. Your best bet is to seek out an on site inspection by a beekeeper, pest control operator, or entomologist, for a professional opinion and solution.
Hello Abra,
I have found multiple bees inside my home dead. Recentlly they are getting into the light and dying. They are sometimes alive as well inside of only my kitchen. I have found multiple alive on the windows in my kitchen. I have central heat and air so i pushed the extended tile on the ceiling up and 6 came out alive you can deff see them up above the ceiling. What can i do ?
Hi Jessica, If there is a bee colony in the attic, you should contact a bee removal or pest control company immediately. You may have a live bee hive inside the attic. That being said, there is also a chance that you might be attracting forager bees, especially if you are using citrus scented products. Often lavender, honey, and citrus scented items (like sprays, cleaners, and candles) will attract bees into your home. Your best bet is to immediately stop using these scented products. To be safe, we would also recommend hiring a bee removal or pest control company to do an inspection.
I just bought a small log home a couple of years ago and I’m pretty sure every insect wants to either live with me or eat my house! I have it treated for carpenter bees and carpenter ants, but this spring I’ve now been killing yellow jackets! And just a few days ago I’ve started getting many (20 this morning 10 dead ones) honey bees on my dining room and living room windows. I don’t know what to do because I don’t want to kill them like I have NO problem doing with yellow jackets. I Caltex my exterminator to see if he knows a be keeper but the only one he knows if won’t come this far. I’ll find one, but what to do in the meantime?? Is there any way to get them out without hurting them? I’ll try your suggestions to see if I can find out where they are getting in. I don’t want to get stung help!!! And thank you.
I have been living in my home for 30 yrs. For the first time in 30 yrs I am finding bees in my house. Some are dead, some are flying. These bees are in a family room that was once a bed room. There is an a/c in the wall, but again it has been there for a good 20+ yrs. There is no fireplace or chimney of any kind. It is next to the bathroom that does have an exhaust fan but I see no bees in the bathroom. I am only seeing them, I assume because it is cold out now and they want to get where it is warm. I see no hive anywhere in that room. I did not have this issue last year or any other of my 30 years in this house. I can not for the life of me figure out where they can be coming from. It is to cold for me to see them flying around out side ( 40 degrees for a high and usually windy). The bees are yellow jackets which I thought were ground nesters, This room is over a basement that is 3/4 of an open basement where the rest is a crawl space of sand covered with moisture barrier heavy plastic. We have set off 2 fog bombers to kill insects since there are many crickets and spider crickets down there.
Any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated since I fear what may happen come the spring, summer or fall when they decide to swarm!!!
Based on your situation it’s hard to tell without being there, in our experience we don’t deal with structures like you have in your area. Here in San Diego, when bees get inside the home it’s usually through attic ventilation holes, the roof vents or other cracks and holes leading in from the exterior. With that being said you will want to get a professional in your area with experience dealing with this type of problem. They will come out and do an inspection and rule out all possible scenarios.
I have found some baby bees in my bathrooms about ten in the last 24 hours . Does that mean there is a big hive in my house somewhere ? Not sure what part of the process does baby bees come along .
Hi Gina. It’s hard to say. It’s very hard for the layman to distinguish a baby bee from an adult bee. How do you know they are “baby bees”? As far as bees getting inside, sometimes a few scout bees can manage their way in to a home. Other times a swarm may have entered the structure through an attic vent hole, canned lighting, or a crack or gap in the wall. There may be a hive in the attic/wall…there may not be. The best thing to do is a thorough inspection on the exterior of the home. Look for any place bees might be able to get into. Vents, cable lines, pipes, cracks, and holes in the wall or roof are all typical places that bee swarms will enter a structure.
Hello I live in a 2 story bungalow style house. Ive lived here almost 10 years no bees ever in my house. This year I started to have crazy amounts of yellow jackets outside my house. I set bee traps and sprayed around 100-200 yellow jackets. Now over the last 2months or so they have been getting inside my house. I selaed every window with weather strip tape siliconed vents ,pipes and wires outside. I have killed around 40 inside my house and there bigger than the ones outside.
Ive noticed 2 small nests outside my atttic vent. I sprayed them and dusted. Still getting them. In all parts of the house downstairs and upstairs. Im wondering if they managed to get into my attic possibly. My fiance is allergic and I have 2 girls 18months and 17years old.
I also noticed when I turn heat on I seem to get more is that because the warm air is drawing them out of attic possibly or maybe they are in my vents or crawlspace?
Hi Justin. It’s possible they may be in the vents, attic, and/or crawlspace. For safety, you should call a licensed pest control company in your area. Sometimes stinging insects infest areas that are very difficult to reach without professional grade tools and supplies, that only a licensed company can acquire.
Hi Gina, My daughter had bees swarming outside her home about 10 days ago, she thinks they gained entrance through a wall vent. Her daughter has gone into her bedroom where there are dead bees over the floor, does this mean they are under the floorboards and are they all dying
What you are experiencing could be that the bees have made their way into your home from the outside vents and are getting trapped inside that room and dying from dehydration. Usually when this happens you will see them in or near the windows. They are following the light source to try and get out. Cover the inside room vents with something dark and make sure that all the edges are sealed really good. Call a removal specialist out to take a look at the outside entrance whether it’s the vent on the outside or a crack/hole in the eaves. Also, do not cover or plug the entrance they are using to get in your home as they will not die inside the structure of your home. Instead, they will just find another way out and usually that is another room of home. Hope this helps.
I have found a considerable number of bees in my bedroom which has two windows and a vent. Some are dead on the floor or window sill and others seem to be on the window looking for a way out. Initially I thought they were coming in from the window but now I have sealed off the window with plastic – no gaps pretty much air tight. I do have a vent that I will cover also with a dark cloth leaving it too pretty tight. Outside this room is a vent for the attic – is it possible that is where a hive or the main bee problem exist and if so what do I do. I cannot sleep in my bedroom as I do not like bees etc… Your help, suggestion or anything is appreciated. Thanks
There could be a hive in the wall. You can try to put your hand against the wall and see if you feel any unusual heat or vibrations. If you have a chimney you might want listen inside the fireplace and see if you hear any buzzing. When in doubt call your local bee specialist. Hope everything works out. 🙂 Please stop by with any updates if possible.
I think they are getting in through the bathroom vent. Who do I call for that?
Hi Allie. Normally we recommend people call a bee removal company (or beekeeper) to remove the bees alive. Since the bees are inside the structure of your home, however, you might want to call a regular pest control company.
I live in a townhouse and noticed about 4 bees in my house almost crawling but today saw a bee that was buzzing inside the window full of energy….assuming trying to get out. Can’t see much as it’s a 2 story townhouse and not sure if it’s association responsibility as I can’t seem to see where they are coming from.
Hi Janet. Every homeowner association has different rules regarding bees. Usually if the bees are in a common area, the association will pay for it. When the bees get inside a specific home, the association usually won’t pay to resolve the problem. Check with your association to see what their specific rules are. Sometimes the association will pay for it. Once you have determined who is financially responsible, contact a bee removal or pest control company so they can determine how the bees are entering the structure of your home.
I have found probably over 10 bees in my room, i live on the second floor of my house and i dont know where they are coming from
Hi Ale. Whenever bees get inside a structure, they usually do so through small cracks, holes, and gaps on the exterior. Walk the perimeter of your home during the hottest part of the day. Look for a few bees entering and exiting a specific spot on your home. Look specifically for areas where pipes, cable wires, and or vents make not be properly sealed off. If the home is too tall to do a thorough inspection, call a bee removal or pest control company who can help you figure out how they are getting inside.
My wife and I have had a vicious bee problem the last few weeks. We haven’t noticed where they’re coming from so we will try to find them with these tips. I wouldn’t have known where to look for them so thank you for sharing this post! I hope we’ll find their hive so we can hire bee control service to remove it.
Around 2 pm today a few bees came in through a gap from a window ac unit. After about an hour there are over 50 bees in my home and about 30 dead or lethargic ones on the ground. There are bees flying all over the place outside when I usually don’t see much. Any ideas why this is happening? I called the local pest control and they can’t make it out until tomorrow.
It sounds like bees had scouted your home and have decided to move in. What did the pest control company say when you called them out?
I have seen two bees in my home and the second bee was really big i think they are coming in the loft how i get ride of them and stop them coming back
Hi Kirsty. If bees are getting inside your home, we recommend you call a licensed Pest Control Company in your area. They will have the proper tools, knowledge, and protective clothing to resolve the problem safely.
I had a bee buzzing in my ear yesterday, I was seating on my sofa. I immediately just up from the sofa, and I went for my spray. I sprayed the living room, when I woke up this morning, is was dead. For the life of me, I don’t know how it entered into my home. This is not normal a bee really, I’m today again.
Oh dear, that does sound unusual. I would contact a licensed Pest Control Company to come out and identify what type of bees you are encountering. The way to resolve the problem will largely depend on what type of bee you are dealing with.
Yesterday I thought I killed two bugs on my dinning room floor and today was another one so I got a plastic see thru container and scooped it up put on my glasses and omg It was a bee non of them were flying all found crawling around same spot im so afraid cuz I have a 18 month old and afraid he might step on one or try to pick it up and put in his mouth. Question is if the bees are only crawling does that mean I have some kind of hive in my house? I live in a two story and so far don’t see any upstairs.
Hi Kayla. If bees are flying and/or crawling inside your home, there may be a swarm or hive in the attic or wall voids of your home. There are a number of ways bees can get inside your home. Best to call a licensed Pest Control company to resolve the problem safely.
Every day for the past week I have encountered ‘baby bees’ (I’ve been calling them that b/c they are no bigger than 1cm & they dont fly away when I take them outside) crawling on my stair landing which is by a sunny window.
I do know on that same wall but on the exterior side I have mason bees- my daughter & I watched them build their nests in a few old holes in the bricks and seal it. It is possible that the ‘babies’ have hatched and the holes are actually deeper than I ever imagined and the bees are exiting thru my house now?
Hi Amanda, It’s hard to say what you have going on at your house. We would probably need a picture of the “baby bees” in order to properly identify them. The best bet is for you to call a licensed Pest Control Company in your area to identify and treat whatever bee or pest is giving you trouble. The bugs where you live may be different that the ones we deal with here in San Diego, CA.
Hi. We had a swarm of bees outside in a tree. We got rid of that swarm, but now we have had over two hundred bees inside the house which are dying, but we don’t know where they are coming from. We can’t see where they are coming from. We do have a fireplace, but it’s shut.
Hi Ana,
There is a chance that the bees can still get inside your home, even if the flue is closed. You see, even when the flue is closed, often the sealing is not effective enough to keep bees out. In other words, bees can often still get in, despite closing the flue. If you have tried the tips on this blog, and are still unable to locate how the bees are getting inside, I’d call a licensed pest control company to help locate the bees entrance. The sooner you resolve the problem, the better. Once the bees have made a hive, its a lot more expensive to resolve the problem.
Thanks for the tips. I just found 3 bees crawling around on my windowsill. I will be outside inspecting tomorrow!
Last summer bees found a crack in the stone on the side of the house and several would find their way inside. We had someone come and exterminate. No more bees, but now with the weather getting warmer we have found around 10 bees within a few weeks this year. But no bees are around the site from last summer on the side of the house and I have looked around the rest of the house. Could some bees have been unborn during extermination and now are coming to life?
Hi Mike,
You most likely have a new bee problem or scout bees.
There is no way “unborn bees” from last summer could have survived and hatched after such a long period of time.
There may be a hive nearby, on a different property, that is producing the bees that you are seeing.
Hope that helps.
We have had a lot of bees around our patio furniture zooming around. They are flying around lots of flowers but also on that patio a few weeks ago. We moved the patio furniture and placed it back a few days later. Now daily we have 2-4 bees entering the house (trough the patio doors) they also fly around washing line (same hight) is it normal for bees to enter the house daily? We live rural close to lots of trees/fields I am just a little worried. Haven’t seen much unusual activity except for bees flying much higher then the ground. Do we need to call someone or are we just worried and it’s part of bee season
Hi Tamara,
It is possible the bees may be attracted to the water on the damp clothing hanging on the washing line. Sometimes when bees are foraging for water, they will seek out anything with moisture. That being said, bees do sometimes get inside homes randomly, especially during bee season. Are there any other attractants that might be bringing them to your home? Lemon or citrus scented air fresheners and/or honey baked items in the kitchen? Both can attract bees to your property. Even peeling an orange can draw bees. The other possibility is that there may be a swarm or hive inside the structure of your home. For piece of mind, I would hire a bee specialist or pest control professional to come out for an inspection. Better safe than sorry.
Everything I read made total sence to me. First day = 2 bees, second day = 4 bees. Four days later = 8 bees, 6 dead, 2 flying at the window. And all of them right next to our fireplace. turned the TV off, and YEP buzz,buzz,BUZZ! Went out side and bees buzzing all around the chimney. This all happened before I read your info. but it couldnt have been any closer to what happened. So to answer your question of this being helpful? YES IT IS!
Hi Sherri.
Thanks for taking the time to give us your feedback.
Whenever I write a blog, I always hope that it will help someone with their bee problem.
Your comments just made my day. Thanks!
I’m finding baby bees in my kitchen , on my landing upstairs and in the spare bedroom. I know that I have a nest in my roof some where but that’s on the front of the house and my kitchen is on the back and so is my landing and spare room on the frony i just don’t know how they are getting in , but now I am also getting wasps in the house had 2 in the kitchen window yesterday and 2 upstairs.
Hi Lindsay. Sounds like you have a lot going on at your house. It really should be looked at by a licensed pest control company in your area. Even if a beekeeper is able to remove the beehive alive, it sounds like you still will have a wasp problem that needs to be resolved. With situations this complicated, a licensed professional is always the best way to go.
I found a crack in my foundation and sealed it up. The bees had been flying in and out and I am allergic so I figured that would discourage them. Well, 20 minutes after doing that my basement had about 20 bees in it ! That was a week ago. Since that time I have killed on average 3 bees a day. They come from somewhere near the foundation downstairs in the basement and fly to the windows(the light). Since I am slightly allergic I have sprayed them when I see them. What’s odd is sometimes I wake up and there are 15 bees dead under the window. When will they all go away ?!?! Please I need advice . It’s getting cooler at night but I don’t want to keep walking on tip toes in my basement . Thanks in advance .
Hi Amanda, Unfortunately when you sealed the crack on the foundation you may have sealed the bee colony inside the structure. At this point, your best bet would be to hire a licensed pest control or bee removal company. They may need to remove the sealant (or open the structure) in order to solve the bee problem.
Thank you. Found my problem.
I found a bunch of dead bees in my hall and one that barely living. I have searched high and low and couldn’t find a hive or anything. Now I’m finding them all over the house that are dead. What should I do?
Hi James. If you are finding a bunch of bees inside your home, they may be entering through any gap, crack, vent, or hole on the exterior. Sometimes they enter through the top of the chimney, sometimes through a crack in a skylight, maybe even through a gap in the wall that wasn’t sealed off properly. Start by walking around the perimeter of the house during the hottest part of the day. Look at all the places on the exterior where bees might be able to get in. Take a set of binoculars if the roof line is high up. If you still can’t find the point of entry where the bees are getting in, try calling a beekeeper or pest control company in your area.
I’ve been seeing baby bees and now the bigger bees at least one a day and I have never lived where I had bees inside my apt. I do see some small ones going in and out of the wall on the balcony. When it was time for the exterminator to come out, I asked about that, but I was told that they can’t get in thru there. He sprayed out there, but they are back flying in and out just like they were already doing. When I turn my heat or a/c on…is that making them come in thru the vents, although it seems like the heat would be too hot to come thru? SMH! I found a dead one on my pillow the other morning while making up my bed and I thought…okay this is getting a little bit too close…something needs to be done FOR REAL before I get stung while sleep and I don’t know how many there could be flying around me. I will check with my landlord in the morning.
I have had 10 bees in my house in past couple days. Is this cause for concern? It’s February but we are having a warm winter. Also we love on a farm. I’m just not wanting to harm the bees and I’m hoping there’s no nest.
Hi Rhonda. I’m not sure where you reside, but here in San Diego we are experiencing an early start to swarm season. Normally swarm season begins mid March, but this year we have noticed an unusually high volume of bee calls for this time of year. As far as the bees getting inside your home, you may have a swarm entering the structure through a vent, hole, or crack. Sometimes a bee swarm will enter a home and build a hive inside a vent, wall void, or attic crawl space. On the other hand, there is a chance that some bees have gotten inside via an open window or door. It might also be that there is no swarm yet, and you only have scout bees.
I see one or two bees a year in my living room usually around this time but nothing again for about a year
I have honey bees in my family room again this year. Three years ago I had an enormous amount of bees. Between 100 and 200 a day dead on the floor for approximately three weeks. (Last year and the year before it was significantly less). I called beekeepers in and no one wanted to touch it. There IS a fireplace in this room and I have seen a few bees around the top of the chimney. I hate to kill honey bees but I don’t want them in my house!
Hi Janet. It sounds like you have had a lot of difficulties dealing with bees getting inside your home. It also sounds like you want to save (not kill the bees). Unfortunately there are times that beekeepers are just not able to save the bees, due to their location. Perhaps the hive inside is too large or difficult to reach?
If you are unable to find a live removal company to remove the bees humanely, you may need to consider hiring a pest control company.
It is a shame to have to do that, but once bees make a hive inside the structure of your home, they are officially a pest, especially if you don’t have any beekeepers willing or able to remove it humanely. Our advice is to take action quickly. The longer you wait to resolve the bee problem, the bigger the hive will get (and the more expensive it will be to remove it).
There have been a number of times over the past couple of years where we would see a large number of bees coming into the house. I am pretty sure they are coming in through the fireplace but I am not sure if there is a hive in the chimney. If there was a hive, would we stop seeing them for a long period of time and then start seeing them again out of the blue? When I called the pest control guy he came out and the swarm outside was gone so he said there was nothing to worry about. Should I be worried or is this some that happens alot? They are back today thats why I ask
Hi Bill. It is possible there may be a hive, or remnants of an old hive that is attracting random bees, and/or swarms to that same area each year. You could also be in a flight path or an area where there is a beehive nearby. It could also be that there is an attractant of some sort, like citrus or honey. Bees are attracted to certain spectrum of bright light and also citrus and honey scents. Citrus cleaning spray products and/or cutting up lemons, limes, and oranges have also been known to draw bees. Your best bet will be to get a 2nd professional opinion from a licensed bee removal or pest control professional who can perform and inspection of the chimney.
Last year I had a number of bees flying around my front door and some dead on window sills and floors upstair. I called pest control and the found they were entering through and side gap in facia and treated the problem.
I have started to see about 2 or 3 bees flying in to gaps around my brick work at the top of my house which has left me petrified I will get another swarm this year. I have looked in the loft but can’t see any nests. It’s not cheep getting pest control out each year. Would it be too late to seal up any gaps I have seen ?
Hi Allison. Great question! If the bees have not infested the area yet, sealing the holes, cracks, and gaps is a great idea. For small holes, a clear 100% silicone works great. For larger holes, a 1/8 inch screen (hardware cloth) will keep the bees out, if installed properly. Stay away from epoxy foam. Bees can eat right through it and re infest.
hi, I have one large bee possibly a queen that keeps coming into my kitchen,i haven’t seen any others just this one that i keep putting out but comes back in,i’m sure its the same one, its been flying around around my house for about a week or so, do you think its looking for somewhere to nest ??
Hi Tina. Highly unlikely it is a queen honeybee. Queen honeybees don’t travel alone. Honeybees are a highly social species. What you are describing (a sole bee) sounds like a semi social species of bee. There are thousand of species of bees. Best to call a Pest Control company that is licensed to identify exactly which species is affecting you
I’m pretty sure the bees are getting in from somewhere on the roof. They are usually seen upstairs. They don’t look like bumble bees, they are huge and black looking. Their stingers are also big. Can hornets/wasp build nests too? I went outside and their was a couple flying close to my windows, on the roof. They were just in that spot.
Hi Faith. It could be a different species of bee, maybe a carpenter bee? It could also possibly be a wasp of some sort. Best to seek the advice of a professional who is licensed to identify insects, like an entomologist or a pest control company.
I keep waking up to bees in my windows and I have an allergy to them so you can only imagine how petrified I am . Idk where they are coming from no fireplace no vents
Hi HoneeiB,
Bees can take advantage of any gap,crack, or hole on the roof, walls, or even under the foundation of a home.
If you are allergic, your best bet will be to call a licensed exterminator who can determine how they are getting inside.
Hi. I currently Luce in a basement, and I’ve started seeing bees inside. I’ve picked up 5-6 dead ones in the last week, and today I saw a live one flying around. I have no clue where they might be coming in, but I have such a big fear of bees that I can’t get close enough to to do anything about them until they’re already dead on the floor. That’s really worrying to me because my sons play room has been where I’ve found half of the dead ones. The basement is unfinished, and I have no clue where to start
Hi Abbi,
If there are bees getting inside an unfinished basement, the first thing you will need to do is perform an inspection on the exterior of the home. I would start by looking at the side of the house closest to the room where you notice the bees are getting inside. If the bees are getting inside your sons playroom, look for any cracks, gaps, vents, or holes where the bees might be getting inside. If there is a fireplace in that room, check the top of the chimney. If there is a washer dryer near that room, check the dryer exhaust vent. If all else fails and you are still unable to determine how the bees are getting inside, call a pest control company to perform an inspection. Once they find out how the bees are getting inside, they will be able to give you a cost and an explanation of how to fix the problem.
Do bumblebees act the same way? I’ve had two come out of somewhere in my living room and am worried there will be more. I caught them both and let them go but don’t want it to be a problem. Do I look for the same things/signs for them or do they act different?
Hi Christina,
Honeybees are a highly social insect that rely greatly on each other for survival. Bumblebees are a semi social species of bee that behave quite differently to the honeybee.
Since we don’t know which species of Bumblebee you are dealing with, I would reach out to a Beekeeping Society in your area. Usually you can find a Beekeepers Association in the nearest Metropolitan area, closest to you.
Many Bumblebee populations are struggling right now, so try to seek out an expert in your area who can save them, if that is possible.
Hi! We’ve had a lone bee/wasp come inside the house last Thursday but we saved it and released it outside. Another one came in Friday and we released it again. Nothing on Saturday and Sunday, yet here we are Monday and another lone bee/wasp came inside the house. They just appear out of thin air in the kitchen and since I work on the dining table next to the kitchen, I hear them before I can see them. We looked outside to see where they hang out but we see nothing? We live in a two story home and the only place we can’t get a good look at is the roof….. We did have our kitchen renovated last year, but we didn’t touch the vent outside. We stared at the kitchen hood vent outside for at least 5 minutes and no activity there either. We shut off everything in the house and tried to listen as you suggested, we couldn’t hear anything. It’s never happened before, what do you think?
Thanks!
Hi Sin,
Sounds like you have been performing very thorough inspections. It’s possible you may need to hire a pest control professional who will inspect the roof. The wasps may be entering an area that is not visible from the ground.
Hi Abra, we have honey bees that visit our home every afternoon around the same time. They had been getting in for a while but only a few a day. The most we have seen outside at one time is about 12. We’ve had two different bee guys over to check it out and they see no evidence of a hive. We have identified the spot on the roof the bees are attracted to and have put garlic powder up there. Since then no bees have come in the house but they still visit every afternoon for Bee Happy Hour. How long will this continue?
Hi Tracee. It’s hard to say if the bees will continue or not. I would keep an eye on it daily. You may have scout bees, or there may be an active infestation inside the roof. If bee activity continues, you should seek the advice of a expert bee professional that has been in business many years, or a pest control company that specializes in bees.
Hi Tracee.
What you are describing sounds unusual. Off the top of my head there may be a few things going on. Are you using any citrus or lavender products (like bathroom spray) that might be emitting an odor out a vent nearby? Sometimes strong scents will attract bees. Another possibility is that there may be remnants of a hive inside the roof that is attracting the bees.
Were the bee guys you hired to look at the problem licensed by your state? Here in California, unlicensed beekeepers are not legally allowed to identify bee and recommend solutions to bee problems. They are only allowed to remove bees. There may be a problem at your home, that a licensed company will be able to identify. I would recommend calling a Pest Control Company that is licensed by the Structural Pest Control Board in your area.
Thank you for this. We had pest control come out a week ago to spray a hive that was built under the roof of our mudroom. Since then, there are bees in my kitchen and the bathroom that sits above the kitchen. Pest control did seal the hive… but we’re still seeing at least 10 bees/day, typically by the windows Initially I assumed they were ones escaped the spraying, but after reading your post, I’m not so sure. Any immediate thoughts? We have a small child who’s terrified of all insects and her screams are driving me slightly crazy
correction, they did not seal the hive, they sealed the opening that allowed access to the mudroom
Hi KB. Assuming that these are the same bees (and not another bee issue), my first thought is that the Pest Control Company may have used a product that repelled the bees further into the structure. I would call the company you hired and ask for a supervisor to discuss the insecticide that was used. Most pest control companies offer a 30 day warranty when they perform an elimination. If you are still under warranty, ask them to re treat the bees with a different product that might work more effectively.
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Thanks for the kind words. 🙂
Thanks so much for all the great information! I have bees that I am finding(mostly dead) by my sun room doors. We have boiler heat; could the bees be coming up through the boiler pipes from the basement? Or would they more likely be coming up through other places and living in walls?
Hi Mollie. Unfortunately we are on the west coast and have never encountered bees in boiler pipes. This is because boilers are not usually found in homes in Southern California. That being said, there is a chance that the bees have infested the interior wall void. To figure out if the bees might be in the boiler pipes, your best bet would be to contact a licensed pest control company (with bee experience), in your county or state.
hey there are so many bees on my window glass.I am not able to open my window.I don’t know what kind of bees they are.Please help me how to get rid of this.
Best thing to do is call a licensed pest control company in your area. The bees may be in an area that is difficult to reach, a licensed company will have access to professional grade products and hopefully have plenty of experience with bees.
All last summer, I was getting bees in my bathroom. I see them mostly flying around my window, between the window itself and my curtain. They occasionally fly around the bathroom but that’s besides the point. The point is, my boyfriend and I have both sealed up and caulked any areas in which they could possibly enter through. There is no possible place on the window at this point that they could be coming in from. I do have a heater right below said window. However, I don’t think they are entering there because we keep the heater on at all times. There are times where we would even find 7-8 at the same time behind the curtain. On the positive side, we do see them swarming and flying around right outside the window, specifically in the left hand corner of the window. However, we aren’t seeing any signs of entry and can’t figure out how they are entering. I would like to refrain from telling my landlord because he always finds a way to blame me for things like these and I know I will have to pay for any expenses to get this fixed.
Hi Savanah. It sounds like there may be a possibility that a bee colony is living inside the structure of the home. It could be in the wall void, attic, vents, or other area of the house. We actually wrote a blog about the dangers of ignoring a bee problem for too long. We also wrote a blog about who is responsible for taking care of a bee problem. The blog is specific to San Diego County. Laws could be different for you, depending on where you live. Best to research the laws in your county before agreeing to pay for the bee problem that you may not be legally responsible for.
Hey I work in a pub and the upstairs bathroom hasn’t been used in a while due to pandemic and now on my return there was lots of dead bees. Since being back I have found lots of bees in the same bathroom and succeeded to out them out the window, but struggling to know where they are coming from as it’s a new bathroom all tiled with no holes or vents and windows always closed. Please help !
Hi Tracey. You might want to check the ventilation and lighting systems. If there are none in the room, check the rooms adjacent to it. Its possible they could be coming from a room next door.