Honey Bees in Wisconsin: Why They’re So Important and What to Do If You Find a Hive
Few insects are as important to our environment as the honey bee. While many people panic when they see a large number of bees around their home, honey bees are responsible for pollinating many of the fruits, vegetables, and flowering plants we rely on every day.
At Erdye’s Pest Control, one of our goals isn’t just to eliminate pests—it’s to help homeowners correctly identify the insects they find around their property. Not every flying insect is a pest, and when it comes to honey bees, proper identification can help protect one of nature’s most valuable pollinators.
Why Honey Bees Are So Important
Honey bees play a critical role in agriculture and our natural ecosystem.
As they travel from flower to flower collecting nectar and pollen, they transfer pollen between plants, allowing them to produce fruits, vegetables, seeds, and nuts.
Many foods we enjoy every day depend on pollinators, including:
- Apples
- Cherries
- Blueberries
- Cucumbers
- Pumpkins
- Watermelons
- Almonds
- Peppers
Even many of the flowering plants that make Wisconsin landscapes beautiful rely on bees for successful pollination.
Without healthy bee populations, crop production would decline significantly, affecting both food availability and costs.
Not Every Bee Is a Honey Bee
One of the biggest misconceptions we encounter is that every yellow-and-black insect is a honey bee.
In reality, homeowners often mistake yellowjackets or paper wasps for honey bees.
Here’s how to tell them apart.
Honey Bees
Honey bees are:
- Golden-brown in color
- Slightly fuzzy or hairy
- About ½ inch long
- Usually seen visiting flowers
- Generally calm unless defending their hive
Honey bees are focused on collecting nectar and pollen—not bothering people.
Yellowjackets
Yellowjackets are often confused with bees because of their yellow and black coloring.
However, they are:
- Smooth and shiny
- Bright yellow with bold black markings
- More slender
- Much more aggressive
- Frequently attracted to soda, food, garbage, and picnics
If insects are hovering around your lunch at a cookout, they’re much more likely to be yellowjackets than honey bees.
Paper Wasps
Paper wasps have:
- Long legs that hang beneath them while flying
- Narrow “waists”
- Open umbrella-shaped nests
- Brown, reddish, or yellow coloring
Unlike honey bees, paper wasps are predators that feed other insects to their young.
Correct identification is important because each insect requires a different management approach.
What Is a Honey Bee Swarm?
One of the most alarming sights for homeowners is seeing thousands of bees clustered together on a tree branch, fence post, or shrub.
Fortunately, this is often one of the safest times to be around honey bees.
This behavior is called swarming.
Swarming is how honey bee colonies reproduce.
When a colony becomes overcrowded, the old queen leaves with thousands of worker bees to search for a new home.
While scouts search for a permanent nesting site, the bees temporarily cluster together.
These swarms often remain in one location for anywhere from a few hours to a couple of days before moving on.
During this time, the bees are generally much less defensive because they are not protecting honey or young brood.
What If Honey Bees Move Into Your Home?
While swarms are temporary, sometimes honey bees establish permanent colonies inside:
- Wall voids
- Chimneys
- Soffits
- Hollow trees
- Old barns
- Outbuildings
Once bees begin producing honeycomb inside a structure, the situation becomes much more complicated.
Removing only the visible bees without removing the comb can lead to serious problems.
Left behind, the honey and wax can:
- Melt during warm weather
- Attract ants
- Attract mice
- Draw other insects
- Create unpleasant odors
- Cause staining inside walls
Professional removal involves much more than simply eliminating the bees.
What Should You Do If You Find a Honey Bee Hive?
If you believe you’ve found a honey bee colony, don’t spray it with insecticide.
Instead:
- Stay a safe distance away.
- Keep children and pets from disturbing the area.
- Take a photo if it can be done safely.
- Contact a professional for identification.
In many cases, a local beekeeper may be able to safely remove and relocate the colony, especially if it’s a newly established swarm.
If the bees have already built comb inside your home’s walls or another structure, specialized removal techniques may be necessary to protect both your home and the bees whenever possible.
When Should You Call Erdye’s Pest Control?
At Erdye’s Pest Control, we believe education comes first.
If you’re unsure whether you’re dealing with honey bees, yellowjackets, paper wasps, or another stinging insect, our technicians can properly identify the species and recommend the safest course of action.
If it’s a honey bee colony, we’ll help determine whether relocation by a local beekeeper is the best solution. If it’s an aggressive stinging insect like yellowjackets or paper wasps, we’ll provide the appropriate treatment to protect your family and property.
Correct identification is the key to making the right decision.
Protect Pollinators While Protecting Your Home
Honey bees are an essential part of Wisconsin’s environment. They pollinate the crops we eat, the flowers we enjoy, and the trees that make our communities beautiful.
While a honey bee colony shouldn’t be allowed to remain inside your home’s walls or other structures, that doesn’t mean it should automatically be destroyed. Whenever practical, relocation is often the best solution for both the homeowner and the bees.
If you’ve discovered a swarm or aren’t sure what type of stinging insect you’ve found, don’t guess. Contact Erdye’s Pest Control for professional identification and expert guidance. We’ll help you protect your family while doing what’s best for these important pollinators whenever possible.