Incredibly, wasps are pretty important to the ecosystem. They’re fantastic at pest control — hunting flies, spiders and crop pests — and serve as unintentional pollinators.

Despite these good qualities, you don’t want them moving into the wall of your home. Hidden nests can turn your backyard barbecue into an indoor pizza party once wasps start dive-bombing your can of Coke. But what to do, besides hide?

“First, let’s start with the type of wasp that typically creates hidden nests,” says Thomas Dobrinska, a board certified entomologist with Ehrlich Pest Control. Unfortunately, that’s the yellow jacket, an aggressive social wasp that can sting multiple times. Yellow jacket is the common name of several species that typically build nests in cavities rather than out in the open.

If you have a nest in your wall, Dobrinska and fellow entomologist Emma Grace Crumbley at Mosquito Squad offer these solutions.

Signs You Have a Wasp Nest in Your Wall

If there’s a wasp nest in your wall, Dobrinska says you’ll probably notice it June through August when large numbers of wasps fly in and out of a hole on the outside of your home. “It looks similar to airline traffic,” Dobrinska says. Yellow jackets approaching your home stack up like 747s, following a single line in the air as they enter and exit the opening.

Even if you don’t see an entrance point right away, Crumbley says unusually large numbers of wasps in your yard is a tell-tale sign of a nest somewhere on your property. When you see them, pay attention to where they go to see if they’re headed for a crack in your house.

How to tell if you have wasps or bees? “Bees will have a thicker, more robust body while wasps have a sleeker build with a narrow waist,” Crumbley says. Dobrinska says bees are typically fuzzy and feed their young pollen and nectar, while wasps are hunters that catch live prey to chew up for their larval-stage young.

If you think you have bees, particularly honeybees, consult a professional beekeeper or agricultural extension for assistance before attempting to kill or remove them. Honey left behind may damage your walls and attract pests. Not to mention, bees are in decline, so it’s a good idea to relocate them if possible.

How To Remove a Wasp Nest From Your Wall

Yellow jackets are aggressive and dangerous, particularly for people with an allergy. Both experts strongly advise against DIY-ing wasp nest removal from a wall.

“You should call a professional pest control company immediately,” Crumbley says. “A professional company will have the right equipment and necessary tools to safely remove nests from your home to prevent further infestation.”

Depending on the extent of wasp activity and whether nest removal is a standalone service call, Mosquito Squad estimates this could cost from $20 to $130. Of course, prices may vary by company. Regardless, Dobrinska says, “The nest needs to be treated by a licensed pest professional.”

Sometimes the wasp nest isn’t near the point of entry. That’s another reason not to DIY. If you get it wrong, you could be looking at hordes of angry wasps flying out at you, potentially while you’re up on a ladder.

But if you’re intent on trying this yourself, Crumbley says to follow these steps:

• Wear long sleeves, gloves, pants, close-toed shoes, protective headgear and eyewear to protect you from stings.
• Identify all entry and exit points. Cover the holes with caulk or sealant.
• Use a trap or lure near the area to attract wasps away from their colony.
• Drill a hole in the wall where the nest is. The hole should be small enough to prevent wasps from flying out, but large enough for a dust pesticide applicator to fit through.
• Insert the applicator of your pesticide and apply.
• Leave the area immediately.

Once the wasps die, the nest cannot be used again, so Dobrinska says it’s not necessary to remove the nest from the wall. If you’d like to get rid of it anyway, you’ll need to cut a hole in the wall to access it, then patch the hole.

How To Prevent Wasps From Building a Nest in Your Wall

“The best prevention is exclusion,” Dobrinska says. That means checking under your eaves, in siding and brick facades, and repairing any gaps and cracks.

Before you seal up holes, make sure there’s not an active nest in the wall. If you seal the entry without eliminating the nest, Dobrinska says the wasps will try to get out, likely damaging drywall and materials inside the walls.

Crumbley says natural deterrents like herbs and essential oils discourage wasps. “A combination of clove, lemongrass and geranium essential oils is ideal for applying to outdoor walls, crevices and other places you’ve noticed wasp activity,” Crumbley says. “Peppermint oil is also effective.”

What Bald-Faced Hornets Look Like and Where They Live

To identify these insects, look for distinctive white markings on their face, thorax, legs and abdomen. Bald-faced hornets live throughout most of the United States, including Alaska, and also in Canada. It’s likely you have some in your neighborhood.

Bald-Faced Hornet Behaviors

According to Penn State University Extension, bald-faced hornets are not “true” hornets; they’re actually yellow jackets. All species in the genus Dolichovespula build these big, gray football-shaped nests. They’re often easier to spot in winter after leaves fall off the trees.

Yellow jackets, a type of social wasp, are predators that feed on many insects. They also like sugar and may visit hummingbird and jelly feeders, especially in the fall, when their numbers are at their highest. Social wasps build large nests and aggressively defend them if someone approaches within a few feet. There is one reproductive queen and hundreds of “workers.”

How to Deter Bald-Faced Hornets

You don’t want these pests anywhere around your home. Destroying a nest is the easiest way to deter them. However, that’s easier said than done, and dangerous to attempt if you’re not experienced.

If you find an active bald-faced hornet nest, it’s best to stay away from it. Seek professional assistance if it’s somewhere with a lot of foot traffic. If provoked, these busy insects will defend their home.

Homeowners have come up with creative ways to keep pests away. One popular and affordable pest solution is to hang pennies in a bag of water on a front porch. This hack, mostly used in the South in summer, is primarily a DIY fly repellent. Neem oil is another popular bug repellent.

In northern Minnesota, where I spend many of my weekends, I can’t remember a year when the mosquitoes were this terrible. All summer long we’ve experimented with new and different insect repellents, fogging methods and anything else to limit my family’s itchy bites. Nothing worked.

So I started scouring the internet for mosquito extermination options and found the Skeeter Hawk Fly Trap. I ordered one up and tested it to see if it could be the thing to save our summer.

What Is the Skeeter Hawk Fly Trap?

The Skeeter Hawk Large Fly Trap lures, captures and kills mosquitoes, gnats, house flies, horseflies and many other flying insects. The dual-band, bright blue LED UV light attracts them, and the ultra-quiet fan draws them to the canister where they die from dehydration.

Roughly 16 inches tall, it plugs into a conventional 110-volt outlet. A fold-down hanging hook makes it easy to keep out of the way, indoors or outdoors. And a single power button and twist-lock insect dehydration canister make it extremely user-friendly. Skeeter Hawk Large Fly Traps protect large rooms, yards, pools, patios and decks without chemicals or continuous buzzing.

How We Tested It

With the summer winding down, I packed up the family for a quiet August weekend at a small northern Minnesota cabin. Since my in-laws are also staying there, I brought the Skeeter Hawk Fly Trap to help keep the mosquitoes away during outdoor meals and patio sessions with us and our new baby, their newest grandchild.

I was eager to determine how well the the fly trap worked, whether the sound or brightness were nuisances, and how easily I could dispose of the dead insects.

Operation

FAQs

Q: Can the Skeeter Hawk Fly Trap run on batteries if there’s no outlet available?

A: No, it requires a wall outlet.

Q: Do the Fly Traps come in any other sizes or colors?

A: There are two sizes of Skeeter Hawk Fly Traps: small and large. They’re only available with a gray body and blue LED lights.

What Other Reviewers Had To Say

That’s a lot of bees, so we shouldn’t be surprised that there really are blue bees out there. It might seem like a photoshopped picture that went viral. But insects like blue orchard bees are a real thing, and some blue bees are even native to North America.

Blue Orchard Bees

As you can tell from their name, blue orchard bees like to hang around fruit trees. Unlike their yellow, fuzzy brethren, these insects are a metallic blue, though the color may differ slightly between males and females. They’re more efficient at pollination than regular honeybees, says the U.S. Forest Service, especially with certain fruit trees.

The way these types of bees work differs as well. Honeybees — those striped yellow and brown pollinators we’re all familiar with — work as a hive. Blue orchard bees, or osmia lignaria, tend to work alone but enjoy the company of other bees.

They’re native to the U.S. and Canada, but may not be found in every state. These guys need lower foraging temperatures, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The University of Florida says they’re found in Florida and parts of the southeastern Gulf Coast.

Blue Calamintha Bees

Blue calamintha bees are named for their food source: flowers of Ashe’s calamint.

This metallic navy insect is known for its unique way of collecting pollen, which involves bobbing its head up and down. That causes the pollen to be released onto facial hairs that collect it. This method, noted by the University of Florida, has never been seen in any other insect.

In 2020, these bees, thought to be extinct, made headlines when they were rediscovered in Florida. According to CNN, these bees hadn’t been seen in four years. Originally noticed near Central Florida’s Lake Wiles Ridge, they’ve now been spotted in seven new areas. Like the blue orchard bees, these bees, also known as osmia calaminthae, are solitary critters.

Blue Carpenter Bees

Blue carpenter bees make their homes in the wood of trees rather than in hives. The bright cerulean critters make honey like other bees. But unlike regular honey, theirs has a consistency similar to peanut butter or cookie dough.

You can find these pretty blue bees throughout Southeast Asia, India and Southern China, according to Australian Geographic. Like the other blue bees, xylocopa caerulea are solitary creatures that prefer their own company.

Nobody likes being stung by a wasp. Their presence during the summer causes some of us to run and hide. For others, a sting can be deadly. Read on to find out how to better your chances of avoiding run-ins with these pests.

Emergence of the Queen

In late March and into April, as the ground starts to thaw and the last flakes of the previous winter fade, a familiar pest begins to move about. When temperatures reach around 50 degrees, the queen wasp comes out of hiding and starts looking for places to start her colony.

The queens are hearty enough to survive the harsh winter months, hibernating in safe, protected spaces. The female worker and male drone wasps aren’t so lucky. They die out with the first frost. Each previous year’s colony produces several new queens.

Creating a New Colony

As the weather warms in early spring, the hibernating wasp queens set out to create new colonies. Wasps don’t reuse old nests, opting instead to build new. They will, however, choose the same area or tree branch. When they find a suitable spot, they’ll begin.

First, the female wasp queen chews up wood fiber from trees, logs, plants and even fences, decks and wood patio furniture. From that, she creates a pulp in her mouth to build the nest with.

Paper wasp nests take on a honeycomb structure and resemble upside down umbrellas. Hornets, a type of wasp, build their nests on tree branches, under building eaves, in birdhouses, inside mailboxes or under electrical outlet covers. Hornet nests are papery and grey, resembling a giant football or upside-down bulb, often with multiple holes in the bottom.

Yellow jackets, a different kind of wasp, most often build their nests underground in burrows or holes. They’re known to excavate dirt, moving it outside the hole as their nest size increases.

In the spring, the queen begins laying eggs that hatch into the workers and drones of the new colony. Those workers and drones assist in growing the nest and the colony.

According to Plunkett’s Pest Control, it takes about three weeks for the eggs to hatch and a new colony to begin. As their numbers multiply, so does the potential for your summer barbeque to be the focus of their attention.

Wasps are territorial and will defend their nests if they feel threatened. Some wasp species secrete a specific pheromone that prompts other wasps in the colony to attack and sting the perpetrator. Wasp stings can be painful and even deadly for some, creating a potential anaphylactic reaction.

Catch the Queen

The solution is to eliminate the queen(s) before she/they can build a stinging dynasty. There are innumerable options to catch wasp queens in the spring. Fortunately, they’re the same methods that work well for catching worker wasps later in the season.

Store-bought wasp traps lure the insects in where they can’t escape, eventually dying of dehydration or starvation. Myriad methods entice the insect inside the trap. Some use pet food, specifically wet cat food; the high protein is said to attract the insects. Other options include fruit chunks or fruit juice, raw meat or fish, jam, soda or even wine.

Use protein-rich baits in the spring and fall and sweet ones during the summer months. Many of these traps include specially formulated attractants to lure the pests inside. Whatever bait you chose, make sure to change it out regularly and clean the traps. Wasps aren’t attracted to moldy and rotting food. For the most effectiveness, scatter several traps around your yard.

DIY Solution

The main idea behind most traps is creating an enclosure the wasp can’t escape from. A simple solution is to cut a soda bottle in half and invert the top inside the bottom. The small hole in the spout prevents the wasp from escaping. Fill the bottom with your choice of bait and place in an area with wasp activity.

Damselfly in the Grass

“On a beautiful summer evening in Paynesville, Minnesota, as I walked along a country road just enjoying the tall weeds, this damselfly gave me time to take pictures of bugs—such a joy! I love the shot because I’m starring eye to eye with the tiniest of creatures in the grass that most people don’t even notice are there,” says Bernie Stang.

If you love to watch birds stop by your feeders, you know it’s hard to keep pesky squirrels away. But it’s possible to banish squirrels from bird feeders in your yard with a classic toy—a Slinky.

How to Keep Squirrels Away from Bird Feeders

Squirrels are cute, furry little creatures, but they tend to find their way into anything and everything. They love birdseed, as well as certain nuts, sunflower seeds, fruit and corn, and if you have a bird feeder in your yard, chances are they’re going to get their paws in it.

In her viral video posted on Facebook, Deborah Keller shared her genius hack to keeping squirrels away from her bird feeders for good.

If you have a Slinky from your childhood laying somewhere around your house, you’re in luck. If not, you can buy the original Slinky for about $2.99. Just hook the metal spring around the pole of your bird feeder and attach it to the very top. Gravity should pull the spring down, and that’s all you need to do. When squirrels try to venture up your Slinky-adorned feeder pole, they will weigh down the spring and end up back on the ground! If you want to go all out, use a specialized slinky spring that’s made for keeping squirrels away from bird feeders.

How to Clean a Bird Feeder

While you’re outside, consider how clean your bird feeders are. With warm and humid weather patterns prominent at this point in the summer, birdseed can spoil and mold, especially if your feeder gets direct sunlight. High traffic at your feeder can also be a means of spreading disease if things aren’t cleaned thoroughly.

If you’re wondering how to clean your bird feeder, start by diluting one part bleach with nine parts water. Get rid of any leftover or spoiled seed, and scrub down your feeder with a stiff brush before completely rinsing with clean water. Allow to dry before refilling with foods that attract birds.

Now, sometimes our bug friends are a little more aggressive than we’d like, and they don’t always nest in the best places. Finding ideas to keep backyard pests away can be a hassle, but luckily there are options to help us out.

Your Mail Carrier Left That Dryer Sheet

It might sound crazy. But the reason they left a dryer sheet in your mailbox is pretty simple: to deter wasps and yellow jackets.

If you’ve ever had the displeasure of experiencing a sting from one of these guys, you know it can really ruin your day. But, apparently scented dryer sheets can be used as a preventative measure to help keep the stingers away.

According to Reddit user u/istrx13, it’s well-known in the postal world that dryer sheets help keep nasty pests from opening up shop in cozy places like mailboxes. Being stung by a wasp hiding in a mailbox sounds like the worst possible situation! The dryer sheet in your mailbox is used mostly used for preventative measures, though, so if you see a nest forming, do your postal worker a favor and get rid of the wasps ASAP.

Why Does This Work?

Wasps typically dislike very aromatic things like eucalyptus, citronella and even cloves. Because dryer sheets are meant to thoroughly freshen up our clothes, it makes sense that their scents would be incredibly strong. It’s probably why wasps dislike them so much.

Just remember to switch out the dryer sheet every so often so the scent stays fresh and strong. Your postal worker will thank you.

Coffee Grounds

Feeders filled with sugar water attract hummingbirds. But sometimes not-so-welcome guests like ants, wasps and bees crawl into hummingbird feeders and create problems. For frustrated backyard birders, it may be tempting to use pesticides or insecticides to deter bugs.

But Emma Greig, the project leader for Project FeederWatch of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, advises against it because it may harm birds, as well as the bees whose populations are declining. “You can deter insects while remembering they’re part of nature, too,” says Greig. Instead, try some of these all-natural solutions. The birds (and bees) will thank you.

Choose Red Saucer Feeders

With their long tongues, hummingbirds can reach the nectar in saucer feeders — but insects can’t. And while hummingbirds prefer the color red, bees are attracted to yellow. Here’s the recipe to make your own hummingbird sugar water. Replace the sugar water every few days.

Attach an Ant Moat

Ant moats are typically about three inches wide and one to two inches deep. Hang them above hummingbird sugar water feeders. Because ants can’t swim, water is an effective deterrent. You can also buy hummingbird feeders with built-in ant moats. Keep the moats clean and filled with water.

Hang Feeders with Fishing Line

Fishing line is too thin for ants to climb, which means they won’t be able to reach your hummingbird feeders for a free meal. Learn how to clean hummingbird feeders.

Slip Nectar Guard Tips Over Hummingbird Feeder Holes

Nectar guard tips block insects like yellow jackets, but hummingbirds can still get to the nectar. Check out these feeders hummingbirds will love to visit.

Periodically Move Feeders

Just moving feeders three or four feet will help insects lose track of them. Birds will still find them easily, but insects often won’t.

Place Fake Wasp Nests Nearby

Remove all active wasp nests from the area where you want to place your feeders. Then hang the fake wasp nests in protected areas (away from rain) to deter real wasps, which are territorial and won’t typically venture into a place they think is already occupied.

Plant Bee- and Hummingbird-Friendly Flowers

Give the bees an attractive alternative. Pollinators will flock to nectar-rich flowers in containers and the garden. Try colorful annuals like fuchsia and impatiens, and perennials like trumpet vine, bee balm and cardinal flower. Check out our expert tips for attracting hummingbirds to your backyard, including the best plants, feeders and other backyard features

Up next, this is what you should if you find a bird’s nest in your backyard.

When all you want to do is sit on your patio with a cold glass of lemonade, the last thing you need is a yellowjacket (a kind of wasp) in your drink. Thankfully, getting rid of wasps is a simple process when you get the timing right. So when is the best time to spray a wasp nest? Try to catch them when they’re least active.

What Time of Day (and Year) Are Wasps Most Active?

Like people, wasps are most active during the day. But unlike bees, wasps don’t spend the day making honey. The workers head out to find food and to work on expanding the nest.

According to Michigan State University Extension, wasp colonies reach maximum size at the end of the summer. In northern regions, worker wasps naturally die off after the first few frosts, but the surviving queens may choose the same favorable nesting sites every spring. Removing a nest several years in a row may deter wasps from rebuilding there in the future.

The Best Time to Spray a Wasp Nest

Wasps return home in the evening after a long day’s work. If you’ve struggled to get rid of a wasp nest, it might be because you spray during their work hours. Wasps that return to a missing nest will often start to rebuild in the same spot. It’s more effective to spray the nest when all the wasps are inside for the night.

Since wasps are least active at night, that’s the best time to spray a wasp nest. But that doesn’t mean you have to stay up all night. The University of Minnesota Extension says late evening or early morning will work. The coldest hours are the best time to spray a wasp nest, so take a look at the forecast to see when the temperature will drop in the evening. Then finish the job before temps rise in the morning.

How to Kill a Wasp Nest

When deciding how to kill a wasp nest, location is key. Never try to spray a nest that requires a ladder. You’ll need a quick and easy escape route if the unwelcome pests decide to swarm.

If you have a large or difficult-to-reach nest near your home, it might be best to contact a pest control professional. Hidden nests can also be tricky to DIY. If you see wasps crawling out of cracks in your house, consult a pest control professional as soon as possible. The wrong move can send those stinging pests farther into your home. However, there are two kinds of nests that are easy to get rid of with DIY pest control.

If you have a small and exposed nest on your property, a long-distance spray like Ortho Home Defense should do the trick. It can reach nests up to 20 feet away. Once sprayed, the wasp killer foams up to trap them in their nest. Ortho recommends waiting 24 hours, then checking on the nest and respraying if necessary. Once the nest is inactive, you can knock it down with a long stick.

If you have ground nests, use a powder wasp killer like Sevin instead of a spray. The wasps will track the powder deep into their burrows. As a bonus, Sevin will kill other garden pests like ants and Japanese beetles too.

Do Wasps Sting or Bite?

Wasps, like almost any creature, can bite. But their tiny jaws aren’t what they are known for. It’s their sting that most people fear.

Unlike bees, whose stingers remain embedded in the skin, wasps keep their stingers after an attack, so they can sting more than once. That’s one of the main differences between wasps and bees. Wasps also tend to be more aggressive. Although many people would prefer to keep both wasps and bees out of their yards, some maintain backyard bee hives, and wasps can attack those domestic colonies when scavenging for food.

Do Wasps Die When They Sting You?

No, wasps do not die after they sting. Bee stingers­ — excluding bumblebees — have a large barb that causes it to tear from the body after use, resulting in the bee’s death.

According to the Washington State Department of Health, wasps have smaller barbs which do not stick in their target. Even if a wasp stings multiple times, it will retain its stinger. So if you’re wondering what to do when a wasp stings you, start by leaving it alone so that it doesn’t strike again.

Wasp Sting Symptoms

Reactions to wasp venom varies from person to person. Some will only have minor pain and redness. Others may have severe allergic reactions.

Typical wasp sting symptoms include sharp pain at the sting site, redness and a raised welt with a small, white mark at the center. These mild reactions should subside after a few hours. More severe symptoms may include redness or swelling that persists or worsens for several days, nausea and vomiting.

If you or someone near you is stung by a wasp, be sure to monitor for symptoms of an allergic reaction. Swollen facial features or a swollen throat, hives or itching away from the sting itself, and trouble breathing are a few symptoms that can signal a life-threatening allergy. Check for Healthline’s signs of anaphylaxis and seek medical attention when necessary.

What to Do When a Wasp Stings You (How to Treat a Wasp Sting)

Wasp sting treatment depends on the reaction you have. For most, a wasp sting does not require medical intervention. If you only experience the typical symptoms, wash the sting site with soap and water and treat swelling with a cold compress or ice. You may also consider using an anti-itch cream, over the counter pain reliever, antihistamine or natural bug bite remedy to counteract any pain or itching.

However, if you experience more severe symptoms such as vomiting, hives or a constricted airway, it’s best to seek immediate medical attention. Professional wasp sting treatment is needed in case of a life-threatening allergy.

Wasp Prevention

If you’ve been stung, chances are that you’ll want to prevent it from happening again. When you encounter wasps at a park or other public area, there isn’t much you can do about them. But there are some steps you can take to deter wasps from your home.

The first step is finding out if you have a nest near your living space. You can try spraying the wasp nest yourself or hire a pest control professional. Smaller preventative steps recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention include avoiding perfumed soaps and toiletries, cleaning up discarded food, wearing clothing that covers your body and refraining from swatting at wasps. While these steps will not get rid of stinging pests, they may stop wasps from seeing you as a target.

Look for Allergic Reactions

Watch for unusual swelling or difficulty breathing. Fortunately, less than 1 percent of people have severe allergic reactions to bee stings, and only 3 percent experience moderate allergic reactions. But if you see swelling or have difficulty breathing, head to the hospital immediately. Plus, are you not sure what bit you? Here’s how to identify bug bites.

While we often associate bees and wasps with the danger of an unpleasant sting, there’s so much more to bees than that. In fact, bees are among the most important creatures on the planet when it comes to their impact on humans and the planet’s natural ecosystems. But for now, use this handy guide to know whether it’s a bee or wasp buzzing through your backyard.

Differences in Body Shape

Wasps have slim bodies and narrow waists that connect thorax and abdomen. Bees have thick, rounded bodies with stripes. Plus, are you interested in beekeeping? Check out these 14 tips for doing it in your backyard.

Look at the Wing Position

Two sets of wasp wings run parallel to the abdomen when folded down. With bees, two sets of wings rest on top of the thorax (middle part of the body) when folded down. These are the top 13 plants for bees and other pollinators.

How Many Legs Do Bees Have?

Bees have six short, bulky legs that are flat, not rounded. Wasps have six long, skinny legs with several spines. Learn how to tell the difference between bees and flies.

Do Bees Die When They Sting?

Sometimes. A honey bee stinger stays in the victim, meaning the bee eventually dies. Other bees can sting multiple times. Conversely, the stinger stays with the wasp, allowing it to sting several times. Discover these bee-friendly plants to add to your yard.

Do Wasps Pollinate Plants?

Bees and wasps are both pollinators that will visit backyard blooms to sip on sweet nectar. Bees have pollen-collecting hair on their bodies, and females also have hair on their legs and bellies. Psst — try these natural ways to keep bees and ants away from hummingbird feeders.

What Do Bees and Wasps Eat?

Bees often get blamed for the aggressive and annoying tactics of wasps. As strict nectar and pollen eaters, bees spend most of their time foraging at flowers. If you don’t bother them, they won’t bother you. Wasps, however, are predators always on the hunt for their next meal, whether that be insects or the food at your barbecue.

What Are Murder Hornets?

The Asian giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia), is a two-inch-long insect native to the mountainous areas of east and southeast Asia. Believed to be the world’s largest species of hornet, the murder hornet’s diet consists of large insects, but it especially likes wasps and honeybees.

The queen will come out of hibernation in April, feeding on sap and early spring fruits. Once it builds its underground nest and establishes a colony, the worker hornets are dispatched in search of live food. Asian murder hornets will attack a hive of honeybees by biting off the heads of the adults. Then they take over the hive to raise their own brood, using the helpless honeybee larvae as food for their young.

How Did They Get to the United States?

No one is exactly sure. They could have been purposely exported, or “hitchhiked” in on foreign cargo. Asian hornets were seen in Canada in the fall of 2019, and they first appeared in the United States in December 2019, near Blaine, Washington.

Can They Kill People or Pets?

Murder hornets prefer insects as their food source, but they will attack people and animals if they feel threatened. Their stinger is much longer than that of a honeybee, and the Asian murder hornet can sting multiple times. With a venom that is seven times more potent than honeybee venom, a sting can be incredibly painful. Multiple stings can be fatal, especially if someone is allergic.

How Worried Should I Be?

Asian murder hornets are an invasive species to the United States, so we want to prevent them from establishing themselves. Scientists say the danger to human beings and pets is minimal. However, the hornet’s taste for honeybee heads is alarming.

It is important to safeguard the honeybee population and protect beekeepers’ apiaries. So far, these giant hornets haven’t been seen outside western Washington. Washington State University researchers need the help of beekeepers and the public to identify the hornet. You can download an app to quickly report sightings of the Asian murder hornet. Or you can contact the Washington State Department of Agriculture Pest Program at 1-800-443-6684 or pestprogram@agr.wa.gov.

There are two parts to bee identification: appearance and behavior. While bees and wasps can be very, very similar, there are usually ways of telling them apart. Bees tend to be rounder (with the bumblebee as an extreme example). While wasps may have hair, bees are the species that are truly fuzzy when you look at them up close. The honey bee is one of the few bees that has a more wasp-like shape, but even they are fuzzier around the edges.

Also, it’s important to note that bees actively seek out and pollinate flowers while they are gathering food. Many wasps are not so obsessed with pollen – solitary wasps, in particular, have a very different diet. So if the insects spend most of their time digging through flowers, put another mark in the bee column.

When Bees are Dangerous

Almost never! A few bees around is a good sign—it means your garden is healthy and attractive to these honey makers. If you want to deter bees and wasps, you can plant fewer flowers and focus more on non-flowering ground covers. However, there are really only two points where bees may be dangerous:

1. When a hive is too close for comfort.

A beehive is great for beekeepers, but not so great for pets and families. If there’s a beehive in a nearby tree or on your house itself, it’s probably too close. Bees will get aggressive if they have to defend their hive, so it’s best to stay away. If you have a new hive, look up local beekeepers and see if they will stop by and remove it. Beekeepers are frequently interested in new swarms or hives, and can take them off your hands or at least offer advice on what to do next.

2. When certain bees get aggressive.

This is quite rare, but some species like the Africanized Honey Bee (and almost no other type of bee) have been known to aggressively attack and kill people. If these bees have been spotted in your region, there will be government and news reports showing you where they are, how to tell if it is a problem and what to do next.

Identifying Wasps

The average wasp has only sparse, thin hair and a thinner, longer body that tends to give it a more “dangerous” appearance, often with dark markings and less yellow coloring than bees. Wasp behavior is also an important clue to identifying them. If you are wondering how to deter bees and wasps and find that the insects are following you around and seem aggressive, you probably have a wasp issue. Wasps tend to attack other insects for food or gather materials for their nests. Some communal species do eat nectar, but they don’t tend to actively pollinate the way that bees do. However, like bees, they will often stop by to investigate new sources of food.

When Wasps are Dangerous

Wasps tend to be far more aggressive and much less useful than bees. You don’t want to see them around your yard, especially if it seems like they keep coming back. Here are two cases where you should take action to avoid danger. Remember, while honey bees can only sting once before they die, wasps and hornets can sting repeatedly!

1. When their underground burrows become numerous.

There are many types of wasps, and species common in North America often dig small burrows underground for their eggs and homes. A few of these solitary underground nests aren’t a problem, because they usually only house one wasp at a time. However, a whole set of burrows is a problem—you don’t want to run over them with a lawnmower! Even a few burrowing wasps may be a problem if you have a play area or sandbox for kids nearby. If they are becoming a problem, call pest control for advice on how to deal with them or plant more turf.

2. When communal wasps start building nests.

Other wasps are more communal and will actively build nests. This is a problem because wasps love to make nests in eaves or under decks, ruining your outside space. If it’s a small, relatively new nest that is easy to reach, consider buying some wasp spray and going out at night (when the wasps are sluggish) to spray it down. If the nest is larger and there are many wasps around, contact pest control instead.

Here are some tips on what repels bees.

While bees hopping from one flower to another is picturesque to watch, having bees disturbing a backyard barbecue certainly isn’t. They may seem like pesky creatures to get rid of, but there are quite a few things you may not know about bees, especially the impact they have on our livelihood.

What Bees Do?

The main purpose of bees, particularly honey bees, is to help pollinate the plants around them. According to the Department of Entomology at Pennsylvania State University, pollinators (such as bees) help to fertilize plants, which results in “the formation of seeds and the fruit surrounding seeds.” Pollinators are necessary for three-quarters of our major food crops, including fruits, vegetables, and nuts. An estimated 300,000 species of plants need pollinators. That’s around 80 to 95 percent of plant species. Without pollinators, the number of crops we have will take a serious hit.

Other pollinators can help out with this process including butterflies, beetles, and flies. Even some birds and bats can be pollinators. However, bees of various species are known for being natural pollinators for plants.

Are Bees Endangered?

Unfortunately, for years there has been an alarming decline of bees around the globe. The University of Vermont published a study stating that 23 percent of the wild bee population declined between 2008 and 2013. 139 counties in parts of California, the Pacific Northwest, the Midwest, west Texas and the Mississippi River valley have taken the worst hit in wild bee declines. Since 39 percent of U.S. croplands rely on pollinators for their crop (including those beloved apple orchards and pumpkin patches in the fall), we are facing a serious threat.

By taking care of the bees, our world is able to benefit in terms of agricultural income and nutritious food supply. You may not be able to make a huge change on an industrial level, but as someone with a landscape of your own, there are some ways you can help save the bees.

First, don’t kill them. Leave them be—we need them.

Second, if you’re looking for a way to deter them from your patio, why not build or buy a beehive and set it up farther away from the patio? This beehive won’t produce honey or beeswax for you to use, but it does help to give native bees a place to congregate.

Lastly, why not add the plants they like to your landscape? These bee-friendly plants will be so attractive to those bees, that they may not even notice all the fun you’re having on the patio.

We talked with Gary S. Reuter, an apiculture technician in the University of Minnesota’s Department of Entomology, and he flooded us with great information about beekeeping and hives. He strongly recommends that beginner beekeepers take a few classes or read up on beginning beekeeping. Gary, along with some of his colleagues at the University of Minnesota, has written a comprehensive guide to beekeeping in northern climates.

Parts of the Beehive (From Bottom – Up)

Bottom Board/Floor: This is the base of the beehive. As you continue to build up, you’ll realize that you don’t want the bees to get out of the top of the hive. This is their only exit.

Entrance Reducer: An entrance reducer is a cleat used to adjust the size of the hive’s entrance and controls ventilation and temperature during cooler months. You won’t fasten this small piece to the rest of the assembly but rather use it as an optional accessory. They are used more frequently during the winter months when other animals, such as mice, will try to enter the hive for warmth. During the summer, especially at the height of nectar flow, you can remove it to maximize honey production.

Hive Bodies/Deep Super: Hive Bodies are the boxes where the bees live. The hive bodies contain the comb frames. The height is standardized at 9-1/4 in. which makes building one out of dimensional lumber very easy. You can have two deep hive bodies (one for the brood or family, one for the food) and then continue with the honey supers (see below) above. In cold weather locations, a bee colony can survive with only one deep hive body. We added foil tape to the rabbets on these boxes. Gary told us that the foil tape isn’t necessary, adding “I like a piece of metal in the rabbet. It doesn’t necessarily make the frames come out easier, but it makes it easier to scrape the wax and propolis (a resin-like material) from the rabbet when the frames are out. The metal protects the wood from getting scraped away.”

Queen Excluder: This part is only used during honey season. The queen bee isn’t involved with the actual production of honey, so you place the queen excluder between the brood and honey production. There are slits to let colony bees through but not the queen. Excluders come in plastic or metal.

For the plastic one we used, click here.

Honey Super: This is where the surplus honey is collected. This is your honey, the stuff you can harvest from the bees. You need to leave the honey in the deep hive bodies for the bees to survive. Supers are identical in design to the deep hive bodies but are slightly shallower. The typical sizes are 5-3/4 in. tall or 6-5/8 in. tall, known as an Illinois super. You’ll only need one honey super during your first season of beekeeping but can add two or three for the upcoming seasons.

Frames: Bees build their honeycomb into the frames. You can easily inspect and work on the frames because they’re removable. You will often see frame ends have a taper in them. We decided to not use a taper but if you want to, cut 1/8-in. from each edge of the part [what part?] with a jigsaw. As Gary Reuter told us, “The wider part at the top is to make them space correctly by just pushing them together. The narrow part allows the bees to walk through.” Each frame needs a single sheet of beeswax foundation. Foundations come in three sizes, corresponding to the different depths of hive bodies and supers. Beeswax foundations are delicate and tough to work with at first, so be patient. By the third frame, you’ll be a master. Many beekeepers now use plastic foundations.

Click here to find the beeswax foundations that we used.

Buy plastic foundations from Amazon here.

Inner Cover: The inner cover is a tray with a hole and small notch used for ventilation. Screened inner covers have gained popularity because they provide great ventilation with no fuss.

Outer Cover/Roof: Just like the roof on your house, the outer cover protects the bees from the elements. You can extend the life of your hive by attaching a weatherproof material like aluminum flashing to the top of the roof.

Cutting List

Beehive Project Plans

Click here for a printable PDF of all the different beehive parts.

Bottom Board/Floor

Cut parts A-D to length on the miter saw. Center a 3/4 in. wide x 3/8 in. deep dado on the sides (A). Fasten the sides to the end (B) with glue and 2 in. trim-head screws.

Slide two 1×10 floor boards (C) into place and clamp the sides together to hold the floor boards in place. Place the final floor board (D) in the assembly and scribe its width. Rip the board to the scribed width on the table saw.

Glue and screw the floor boards into place. Fill the screw holes with wood filler and sand to 100-grit.

If you haven’t heard of colony collapse disorder by now, the phenomenon refers to the mysterious disappearance of honeybee colonies throughout North America.

Theories about what causes colony collapse disorder are numerous. The Varroa Mite, Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus, the gut parasite Nosema, pesticide poisoning, stress and changes in habitat top the list. But one thing is for sure: Many people are doing everything they can to save the bees.

You don’t have to keep bees to join the fight to protect them. Here are a few things you can do.

Add Bee-Friendly Plants to Your Backyard

Bees feed on the nectar and pollen found in flowers. However, some flowers are more attractive to bees than others. For instance, they prefer blue, purple, violet, white and yellow flowers. And according to the National Wildlife Federation, bees prefer native plants to invasive or exotic ones. Because tubular flowers are prohibitive for some bees because their tongues can’t reach the nectar, add flowers of different shapes and sizes to accommodate the different species of bees. Also, plant the flowers in clumps to make it easier for the bees to hover from one flower to the next. Check out our list of flowers that attract bees.

Here is a list of 10 bee-friendly plants to plant in your yard.

Provide Water for Bees

Many folks don’t think of bees needing water, but they do. But they can’t hover over water to drink and will drown in something like a dog bowl. Instead, provide a tray or birdbath of water with rocks in it for them to rest on.

Just about any container will work. But if you want to go all out, build your own backyard pond, fountain or water garden. Just choose one that allows water to pool up around the rocks and give the bees something to sit on while they’re sipping.

Avoid Using Pesticides in Your Yard

Maybe you just want to kill the Japanese beetles eating your roses. But the bees are exposed to the pesticide you use on the beetles, the bees will die, too.

For a healthy alternative, plant geraniums among the roses. Japanese beetles will eat the geraniums, which contain a paralyzing substance. Once rendered temporarily immobile, the beetle is susceptible to predators. Savvy backyard gardeners use companion planting to repel many other harmful pests. Marigolds, mint and lavender are a few to consider.

Build a Bee Hotel

Native bees live in the most amazing places — broken bramble canes, bamboo and small spaces in a barn. With the loss of natural habitats, many native bees are suffering. You can save the bees by providing a nesting place. Purchase a native bee house or make your own using a coffee can and tubes of rolled up paper. Different bees require tubes of different diameter, so do some research for the bees that live in your area.

Buy Local and Organic

Your dollars speak loudly. If you only buy organic produce, you’re telling food producers you don’t want bee-harmful chemicals in our ecosystem. If you buy local — particularly honey — you reduce your carbon footprint while supporting smaller beekeepers who take pride in their work.

Other small changes you can make to help the environment include composting, collecting rainwater, switching to low-flow shower heads, and many more collected here.

Become a Beekeeper

Bees provide our food by pollinating crops like fruits and vegetables. Their activity is energizing to watch, and the honey they produce is a sweet reward.

While not for the faint of heart, beekeeping is a rewarding hobby that can lead to a nice little side business if you’re interested in recouping some of your investment.

To learn more about keeping bees, contact your local extension service to see if beekeeping classes are offered in your area. In the meantime, here are some useful backyard beekeeping tips.