Bumble bee nest?

Question

i have a bee's nest up in the boards of my back porch. they are the huge black and yellow bees. they never come around me but the are noisy as h**l. and my cat is an inside cat i wont let her out because i am afraid she will get fleas. if these bees arent poisinous, they arent really bothering me, so if they dont sting i really would rather leave them be. i know there are many becaue they come out of a couple different places but they always go back in the same way. and if they do sting is it as bad as a a wasp sting? or a hornet? what should i do? short of tearing down the entire patio roof i dont really see how i can kill them all.and the entrance to the holes they go into are all up in my overhang porch. i cant tear it down just becasue of a few bees.

Answer 1

You most likely have a LOT more bees than you think you do.  The visible portion of the hive is usually a very tiny portion of the whole affair.  I wouldn't be surprised if most of the empty space in your porch is now filled with bee hive.

Bees are not as bad for stinging as wasps, but they can still kill an adult (and certainly a small animal like a cat) with enough stings.

You're best course of action is to contact an exterminator for a review of the situation.  Any reputable firm will be able to give you an idea of the scale of infestation, and what eliminating it might involve, all for a nominal fee.

Good luck.

Answer 2

why don't you get a exterminator?

Answer 3

These species of bees are called "Wood Bees", and they do NOT make honey that can be used by humans.  They do sting, but are not an aggressive insect if left alone.  They are very beneficial to your plants and flowers, and are beautiful to watch as they dart about pollinating your plants.  Their sting is a little worse than a honeybee, but not as bad as a wasp.  Some people think they angrily "chase" you to sting you.  This is not true. They might follow you if you were wearing bright colors, because they think you are a flower, not because they want to "get" you.  If you stand still, they will investigate, then fly away.

The ONLY way you could get rid of them is to fumigate, or spray poison gas in their nest.  I would leave them alone.  Live and let live, that's my motto.

Answer 4

The last answer is correct. Unlike honeybees, I believe wood bees can sting more than once, making them more wasp like. But I cannot cite this, so take it with a grain of salt.