Honeybees are either a godsend or a nuisance, depending on where they are. Everyone loves to see the beautiful flowers in spring, pollinated by the bees, but no one wants beehives near their home or even under the siding in their home. Bees love to build nests in siding, window frames and under shutters. It only takes a small crack for them to get through, but the longer the bees nest somewhere, the larger it becomes.
Bees are drawn to decaying wood, which could be behind your siding. They also like bright flowers, which often grow near the house. Sometimes, the color of the siding attracts the bees. The space between the siding and your home can be a perfect spot for a colony. Signs that you have bees include hearing buzzing, observing the bees or seeing damage to your siding, like small holes.
If you suspect you have a colony behind your siding, you may want to check local ordinances before killing them. Some species of bees are protected and on the endangered species list. However, wasps and yellow jackets, which are often mistaken for bees, are not. You should identify the insect before trying to remove it. Watch the activity for a few days to see if you can tell where the bees are getting in to the walls and the number of them.
You have at least four options for dealing with bees behind your siding:
- Leave them alone
- Plug the holes or use a sealer
- Exterminate the bees yourself or call a professional
- Relocate the colony
With any of these options, you still have to deal with the remaining hive and honeycomb behind your siding. The honeycomb will melt and attract more insects, causing more damage. Ideally, you may have to remove the siding, clean out the hive, then put up new siding and make sure the holes are sealed.
