Found A Swarm?
First: Please identify what you are seeing. These are the most common wasps and bees.
- Honey bees are hairy, have bright yellow and black stripes and live in large colonies of flat, wax comb that is usually in a cavity above the ground, usually in
trees. Stings once and dies. This is a picture of what a swarm might look like. - Bumble bees are yellow with black stripes, furry with long hair and are gentle. They make a shallow nest, often under sheds, in woodpiles and mulch piles.
- Yellow Jacket Wasps have yellow legs, are shiny (not much hair) and are aggressive, it can sting multiple times
- Bald Faced Hornets are black with ivory markings, very little hair and live in large paper nests shaped like upside down pear usually hanging from branches or eaves.
- Paper Wasps are dusty yellow to dark brown or black, smooth-bodied (very little hair), generally gentle but will act to defend their nest, and live in small umbrella-shaped papery combs hanging horizontally in protected spaces such as attics, eaves or soil cavities.
- European Hornets are quite large and are brown to reddish-brown with a yellow abdomen and live n a paper nest mostly in sheltered and protected areas, such as inside trees, attics, etc.
If you have honeybees, we can help. Please email swarms@aabees.org :
Your name and contact info.
Where the swarm is located (general address) and where on the property.
And a picture!