Moms, here's a weird problem I need help with: We're having an issue with bees at our house. Every day, I'll find three or four bees somewhere in the house, usually downstairs in the kitchen or laundry room. They seem like they're sick or something; very lethargic, and usually crawling and not flying. There must be some location in the house where they are getting in, but I can't find it. They are easy to kill (just smoosh them in a paper towel!) and have not stung anyone, but of course I'm nervous about having them in the house with the baby. Has anyone had an experience like this? Any ideas on how to find where they are getting in? I can't hear any buzzing or see any obvious hives anywhere... Thanks!
We had a terrible bee problem this Spring and the bees were coming in through a tiny hole in between the screen and the window frame the holes are there to drain water when it rains we put little pieces of Kleenex in the holes and that stopped them from coming in. They were so thick we had to call an exterminator. He said that they will make a hive in walls and under siding. They should be getting ready to die out this time of the year so maybe that's why the ones you find are so lethargic.
Good Luck
My first thought is that you have a hive in one of your walls. If you don't notice any outside the house, I be that's your problem. They're lethargic because they're not normally out this time of year. They either die or hibernate (not sure which) in the winter since there's no pollen. If there's a nest in your wall, you'll probably have BIG problem in the spring. Call an exterminator NOW!
It is not uncommon for bees to build hives in the walls of older houses. I have a newer house, but we've occasionally had wasps come in because they build nests in the chimney. With winter coming, you probably won't have any problems until spring. You can always call an exterminator if you're truly worried about it.
That happened to me about a year ago. I had a hive on the outside of my house (near roof/gutters) and the hive had actually gone into the wall of my house! I never really found the spot where the bees were going from outside to in, but once I realized the hive on the outside and had it killed, no more bees in my house! So there is probably a hive in your wall (which is not a good thing!). So look outside bordering the room where you have the bee problem and see where there may be a hive there too.
The bee are trying to find a place to hiberate for the winter, the colder it gets the less you will see them. There is probably a small hive in a wall or other small opening in your home. There are folks who can come to your home and safely remove them without killing them.There are several different kinds of bee's and you shouldn't kill them, many are dyeing out and we are losing our bee 's they polunate our flowers and fruits and vegtables , so we do need them.Find a bee keeper in your area.
Bees hybernate. They are lethargic because they should be sleeping. I would guess they are either looking for a place to build a hive, or have already built one in your walls near the area you find them.
Over the winter it shouldn't be a problem, but come spring, it most likely will be more of a problem. Call someone to help you find it and take care of it. Obviously there are two ways to go about it.... someone who will kill the hive and dispose of it. Or, someone who will try to save the hive and relocate it. As someone else mentioned, we are loosing our bees and it is affecting pollination of crops etc....
You need to have an exterminator come and look for a nest - or hive possibly in your attic. They can get large enough to fall through a ceiling. If you have lots of bees all over your yard and getting into the house its time to have it checked. (we had a hive of 5000 hornets in our attic once)
Hi Laura,
I agree w/Debbie & Sue.
Get someone to come in and smoke them..(Meaning to relax them), remove them from your house and find a relocation spot. We do need bees. Good Luck.
Laura,
We had this problem in our previous house, and in the one we're in now. We don't know how the bees got in, but since they were getting ready to hibernate, it was easy to catch them and put them outside. Come spring, we had no problems. So I'm not convinced that you've got a nest built inside your walls.
But, whatever you do find out, please, please, please, don't kill them. Bees are our best pollinators, and our earth needs them. WE need them. Because once we've killed all the bees (and that is the way we are heading because we SUCK as caretakers of this planet) humans will only live four more years. Without the bees to pollinate, we won't have food, you see.
Blessings,
Joyce
Laura,
First, you need to determine what kind of insect you have. Are they really bees, or paper wasps, or hornets? If they are not honeybees, the problem will resolve itself after the first hard frost with no effort (or poison) from you. Do you have any windows with holes in the screen? If it continues to be a mystery, and you live relatively close to Middletown, I could come over and take a look for you--I'm a beekeeper.
You can send me a private e-mail if you need help.
Best wishes,
Kathy
The only way that I was able to discover the bee nest was to watch the bees from outside. We also had wasps nest under our siding. The bees are getting in through some small opening. Ours was an tiny hole where our dryer was vented. One of my neighbors said that because it was getting cold and the dryer vent was warm the bees were drawn to that spot and then found the opening. I actually had one in the dryer and it stung me as I was taking the clothes out of the dryer. We found the spot by watching the bees and we also tried shining a flashlight from inside around anything that came into the house from outdoors as well as windowa etc. A person outside can see the flashlight and tell where the openings are.Hope this helps.
We are having the exact same thing with yellow jackets. The reason they seem to be acting sick is because they kind of are. They're starting to die off now. Our upstairs bathroom is where we find most of ours (either dead or moving very slowly) but we've also found some in our girls room. Same here as they have not stung. I read online that if the problem isn't too bad, like what you and I have, then just leave them alone. They are going to die out soon and have started that already. Yellow jackets (which is probably what you have)colonies die out in fall and then in the spring if a new one comes that's the best time to see if you can see where they're coming in at so you can prevent the nest from getting bigger. Or call an expert. We have a baby too and 2 other little girls, so I know what you mean about being nervous. It doesn't bother me most of the time though.
We had that problem once, bees in the spare bedroom. Then when it was about to become the nursery, we took the plug plate off to paint and there was the hive in the wall. It was small, so my husband was able to take care of it. This is bee time of year. They're out everywhere; the soccer field was just buzzing with them last weekend. Kids were getting stung right and left. I wouldn't panic, but I would be concerned and try to find where they are coming from.
It is hard to say where they are getting but the reason they seem so lethargic is because winter is coming on.
You might have better luck on a cool sunny day if you go outside and observe all around the house.
You might see them going in at the eaves or around a window.
This has happened to us more than once in our old home.
I don't know about getting rid of them but... this time of year all the girl bees are kicking the boy bees out of the hive (no point in feeding useless boys). The bees you have are likely old boys near death who have been kicked out of their house. I am guessing they are not sick. I would also bet quite a bit on them not going after anyone to sting.
It is so strane to hear you say that because I had the exact same problem about 1 month ago the bees were lethargic then too.. they were small yellow jackets and I would find them in the laundry room, living room, and bathroom but no where else. I was finally able to discover where they werecomin in by watching one of the bees go back to the spot instead of squishing it. I have an exhaust fan in both my kitchen an bathroom and the bees were getting in through that and i also had a nest in my dryer vent.
The bees eventually went away on their own i didnt use poison or anything else.
By all means put them outsider our bumble bee's are becoming extinct due to pesticides & we need them for pollination. Lethargy is due to cold nights & slow warming days. If your having problems with wasp ect.. that's different, I have found window seals broken & floor changes them coming through the baseboard, door seals messed up. Simply look for possible leaks because winters coming on & they can be a problem. But I learned a little trick to help control the wasp mosquito, moth ect.. problems, my husband and son are highly allergic to wasp stings. At each door I place a a flower pot growing Basil, keeps moths & mosquitos away during the summer, at each corner of the house & Porchs I take a plastic bottle, small pop or water, cut a hole in the side like a puncture & cut the plastic around it in V's when your done you can push your finger in, fill it a little over half with if its a half a cup of water ad a cup of sugar, always dbl sugar to water, & red food color then add 3 tblsps of liquid detergent. at top of bottle puncture & place wire it it so you can hang it, hang it in the spots I suggested, the wasp ect.. attempt to get in because of the sugar attraction & the detergent coats their feet & wings & they die, I have never caught a Bumble bee in one of these, so they are protected. both actions keep down all the unwanted bugs outside as well as in. I do this in the spring & change it once a month or when full, & keep the basil growing, we have no problem inside or out with anything but flies & I will find away to control them someday.
Bees get slow when the weather gets colder. It sounds like you have a nest somewhere... mayber under the siding of the house where you can't see them. Are they fat bees? We have carpenter bees the bored nickle size holes into the beams of the deck.