Many insects can look a lot like honey bees, especially when they’re buzzing around and you’re trying not to get stung. The great news is that the insects know you’re bigger and won’t go out of their way to attack you. There have been NO cases of Africanized (the highly aggressive form) honey bees anywhere in Ohio.
If you see a big cluster of bees (usually several thousand) about the size of a large melon or soccer ball hanging on a branch or other object, chances are this may be a swarm. The bees are NOT aggressive in this situation, they’re just looking for a new home. Give us a call and we can happily relocate them to our bee yard so they can continue to do what they do. Freestanding swarms and hives are collected for FREE and enclosed hives (in a wall or attic) may be able to removed for little or no charge. Please don’t spray the bees with any chemicals and don’t delay since the cluster may only be in place for a few hours before it takes up residence in another location. We respond to all swarm calls urgently!
If you ever have a chance to see a swarm, they’re pretty distinctive.
If they don’t find their way into an enclosed space, sometimes they just decide to make a new home where they land even if there isn’t any protection. These free standing hives must be moved into a hive or they will not survive the winter weather.
Many wasps look much like honey bees. Sadly, while they may do a small amount of pollinating, they are generally considered pests and a few can be aggressive if disturbed.
