How to treat Bees

Bees rarely cause pest problems, however it can be alarming to discover a feral swarm of bees in your garden, wall cavity or chimney, and pest companies do receive calls about this. Masons Pest Control will only treat bees if they are a danger to public health, and in most cases we are able to move swarms safely without harm to the bees or our customers.

Types of bees

The three main types of bees are the bumblebee, the solitary or masonry bee, and the honey bee.

Bumblebees aren’t easily confused with other bees and are large, furry and round. Their nests can be found underground in abandoned burrows, bird boxes, compost bins or under decking. Solitary or masonry bees have a reddish-brown bottom and a black body. These small bees can be seen popping in and out of walls or very small holes in the ground, but they don’t cause any problems to the actual structure of buildings.

Honey bees are small and their colour varies from golden brown to almost black. Unlike bumblebees and solitary bees, honey bees swarm and can set up intimidating temporary camps in tree branches, fence posts and even cars. However in almost all of these cases the swarms take off after a day or two and set up a more permanent camp elsewhere.

Are bees pests?

Bees aren’t a protected species and can be treated, however their numbers are in decline. Most bees won’t sting unless they are in danger or provoked, and after the summer season is over they will go away and not return to the same nesting site the following year.

How to get rid of bees?

Masons Pest Control will only treat bees if they are a direct threat to public health, and in most cases we use a qualified beekeeper to move swarms safely away from the customer’s property.

Scientific name:


Life span

Western honey bee: 122–152 days, Bumblebee: 28 days

Did you know

Bees are flying insects closely related to wasps and ants. They are known for their role in pollination and, in the case of the European honey bee, for producing honey and beeswax