8 Reasons To Remove Bees From Your Walls

This may be the first time you have heard of bees living in the walls. It can be a disturbing experience for a homeowner. Though you may only hear them, this is good enough reason to have them removed for both you and the bees!

There are laws surrounding the removal of bees, and some solutions are a process.

Ultimately, removal is the best option, but we’ll cover everything below!Read on for options.

Before we dive deeper into knowing your options for removing bees from the wall, we should understand why they are there and why you should remove them!

If you already know you need to remove bees, and don’t want justification for doing so, take a peak at our guide on the things to do if you have bees in your walls here!

Why Do You Need To Remove Bees From Your Walls?

First, let’s look at the reason for having them in your walls. The type of bees you are likely to find are those adorable honey bees and mason bees. 

The way they appear in your walls is quite interesting.

The queen sends out scout bees to find a suitable place for her to lay eggs and replenish her colony. They must find a space that is dry, warm, and also suitable to make honey! 

There are laws about the removal or illegal extermination of honey bees. As soon as you discover them, have them professionally identified and then check the laws in your area. 

In case you are not aware, honey bees are protected because of the pollinating they do. We need this for our food supply. They are not just a nuisance or something we can do without.

So, we love bees, but don’t want them in our home!

Here are some of the common issues you will find if there are bees on your property.

Bees Will Expand To Other Areas

Unfortunately, the bees are ambitious creatures, and rightfully so. It takes a lot to make the golden, sweet honey we enjoy. 

They must expand as far as they can when they find a piece of real estate they like.

When you find the initial nest, you may not know just how long they have been there. So, have an inspection done to find out if they are in your attic, basement, brickwork, or any other dry and warm space. 

They Can Cause Costly Damage

Once they expand the colony, the bees may end up in your electrical boxes, your crawl spaces, attics, and water meters. 

These are only a few common areas. The damage and even danger of fire sometimes, and can cost you a lot. 

Bees Can Cause Wood Rot

Wood rot is one of the long-term issues bees will cause. They like warm and dry spaces, but by nature of what they do, they’ll create moisture. 

This may take some time to happen, but because they may be in a place you do not notice, it may already be an issue. 

Bees Can Break The Structure Of A Building

As we stated earlier, they can expand far and wide. This causes damage and issues in the home.

The weight of a beehive can break apart the structure from the inside out. They can expand between wall studs and the many spaces in the walls. 

Bees Will Damage Interior Walls

Sometimes the only way you may know you have a hive in the wall is after the wallpaper and drywall have seepage. 

Wax and waste byproducts, as well as honey, can penetrate the main house. If this happens, assume you have a large infestation mounting and get help. 

Bees Attract Rodents

People are not the only ones attracted to honey. The hive carries a pungent smell and will attract rodents and other animals looking for their next meal. 

What those animals are depends on your area and what you have around. The most common for any area are rats and mice. 

Bee Hives Attract Bugs

Apart from the rodent and animal population that may love your homemade honey factory, the bugs are no better. There’s no limit on the types of bugs attracted to a beehive. 

Roaches and ants are the most common pests attracted to honey. If you suddenly see bugs and it’s not a common occurrence, try to track where they are coming from. 

If it’s a hole or crack in the wall, an inspection is suggested. You may catch a honey or mason bee infestation in time to do something about it.  

Bees Bring More Bees!

Yeah, they attract more bees. If you have one successful hive, others will join in. They are quite resourceful. If there are resources they can use, they’ll come in and use what is already there. 

They’ll not typically nest in an empty nest, but the smell of fresh honey will attract new bees. That is a sign for you that more may be on the way! 

Long-Term: Deter Bees With Scents They Hate! 

OK – now for some prevention.

Here are a few scents you can use with varying results. Keep in mind, scent repellents can be highly variable based on a number of factors such as weather, placement and strength.

Please note, our best recommendation is to have a bees’ nest removed. These scents below may work for you, but there are many variables we cannot always account for. For best results, consult with a local exterminator if you have any concerns!

If you’d like an in-depth guide on using natural scents to deter bees, check out our articles on using essential oils to deter bees, along with our guide on using scents that bees hate.

Spray Peppermint Oil

Topping our list is the usage of peppermint oils.

Bees hate peppermint oil. You can spray this oil in the house mostly because outside it may disperse too much. Some oils are good for a wider or outdoor area and others work better for indoor use. 

Peppermint oil is a bit pricey so you may have to include it in your budget for a while or learn how to make a cruder form yourself. 

You could also consider oil concentrates like Peppermint Essential Oils by Fiora Naturals. This oil is packaged in the US and is great for use in a diffuser or mixed with water to make a spray.

Clove, and Geranium Essential Oil Combination

Some mixtures bode well together and can add some extra punch to the prevention of honey bee hiving.

The above clove and geranium essential oil combination would bode well for the outdoor areas and indoor areas. You can also add lemongrass to the mix or switch it out for one of the more expensive ones. 

Clove is a powerful scent and stronger than the other two. If you’re on a budget and just want to try it out first, we suggest looking at a spray like this Clove Essential Oil Room Spray.

Spraying essential oils can deter bees if you are consistent, and you do not already have an infestation. 

However, you need to remove the nest professionally to eliminate the entire issue. 

More humane ways to deter bees can be found in our article: Use These 10 Essential Oils To Keep Bees Away (Humanely).

How To Keep Bees Away From your Home

The key is prevention. Most people will not think of doing anything on the list below until they see bees.

These suggestions are a heads up for people who have had bees already or are interested in keeping them out. 

How Do Bees Get Inside Your Home?

Let’s look at how the bees get in. You may wonder how in the world they do it. 

They get in through anywhere your home integrity is compromised, as well as the natural holes and spaces in a home. 

We will make suggestions on how to remedy some of these things after inspection. 

For more information on how bees infiltrate your home, check out our article on why you keep getting bees and wasps into your home.

Bees get Into the Attic

Attics are one of the most neglected spaces in a home. They are typically a room the homeowner has made into a storage area. 

When there are cracks in the windows or walls, bees come to roost. 

Bees Infest Guttering

Your gutters can cause cracks in the walls. The bees need very little to get in and start nesting. Well maintained and cleaned guttering will prevent cracks from happening. 

Bees Get Into Air Vents

Air and heating vents are just another space bees are attracted to. Keeping them clean and inspected regularly will alert you to any bee gatherings before it gets too serious. 

If you see any bees around air and heating vents, we suggest listening along the wall. Place a glass on the wall so you can hear any buzzing or movement. 

Call a professional in this case especially. This could mean the hive is bigger than you may think. The stray bee who comes out to say hello may be the messenger you need. It’s a sign–take action. 

Bees Love Chimneys

The chimney is prime real estate for bees. They do not understand their two biggest enemies–fire and smoke-are eventually going to emerge. 

You may only use it for one season and some do not use it at all anymore. Even if the flue is closed and cleaned, shut everything down and listen carefully for the buzzing. 

Do NOT attempt to remove them or burn or smoke them out yourself. It’s dangerous in so many ways. Call a professional. 

Bees Fit Well In Holes And Spaces

Caulk, seal, or repair any holes and cracks ¼ inch wide or wider. Larger bees can squish down to get into those spaces.

So, inspect around windows, doors, walls, and pipes, then repair. 

Steps to Removing Bees from your Walls

Here are the BEST steps to remove bees from your walls once you first detect them:

1. Detecting and Identifying the Bees: You can do the first part of the process. Tap the walls and listen to the bees hum. Feel the walls and detect whether there are spots that are warmer than the surrounding area. Then, let the professionals take over the process. 
2. Contact Local Authorities: You will need a local beekeeper they suggest. 
3. Contact and Hire the Beekeeper: This is a paid service. Though there are laws and the responsibility is on you, that doesn’t mean the government will pay for it. 

Be prepared for your wall to be opened. If your wall is brick, you will have to have it opened from the inside. This causes a mess and once in, the bees will have to be collected. 

The collection is a whole process. It entails a few possibilities. Vacuuming them up and keeping them alive.

Destroy them ONLY if there is no other choice. 

Removing the honeycomb and wax and resealing the wall comes last. You would then have to bleach or ammonia the walls to destroy pheromones. 

A pheromone is a hormonal scent living creatures, including us, release to attract others of our species. 

They used to make perfume from animal pheromones. Just a little trivia there. 

That’s All We’ve Got!

Remember, bees are highly attracted to areas where they can secure a nest and easily collect food for the colony. 

A Quick Recap

• You will most likely need a professional.
• Safely detect the bees by tapping the walls, feeling for warmth, or hearing the buzz.
• Immediately contact a professional through local authorities and find the recommended beekeeper. 
• Pay for the service. It stinks–but you have to. 
• Bleach or ammonia your walls post-removal–(not both, that’s dangerous). To keep any new bees from detecting the bee vacation villa. 
• Follow the steps in caulking and repairing any other entry points on the house for future bee prevention. 

Thank you for reading!

I hope this article helps you in keeping these flying critters away.