Bumblebee Hive Inside Walls of House - Ask Extension
Hello! We appear to have bumblebees entering the walls of our house outside, underneath the siding. What do we do? Tear off the siding and remove the ...
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Bumblebee Hive Inside Walls of House #755786
Asked June 12, 2021, 6:53 PM EDT
Hello! We appear to have bumblebees entering the walls of our house outside, underneath the siding. What do we do? Tear off the siding and remove the bees? Smoke them out? We definitely do not want to use chemicals. Thanks for your help!
Lane County Oregon
Expert Response
Hi Courtney,
I would recommend leaving them and they will die naturally during the summer. Bumble bees, unlike honey bees, do not make perennial nests, but rather they grow in the summer, make a batch of new queens (which disperse) and then the colony dies. Depending on when the colony started it may die by early August or late September. After the bees stop flying, then plug the hole. The bees will not cause structural damage, and will only be aggressive if you directly disturb the nest. This strategy will be the least disruptive and expensive option.