Wasp Nest Removal and Bee Removal in Odessa, TX

Wasps Around Odessa Homes

Paper wasps love the eaves and porch ceilings found on most brick homes in the Basin. Nests start small in spring and grow all summer. By August, a nest by the front door can hold dozens of wasps. Other common spots include:

• Under the lip of block walls and fence caps
• Inside metal swing sets, pipe gates and gate posts
• Behind shutters, light fixtures and AC units
• Under patio covers and the trim around garage doors
• In meter boxes and old water tank covers

Yellowjackets nest in holes in the ground or in wall voids. Mowing over a hidden nest is one of the most common ways people get stung many times at once.

Bee Removal: Swarms vs Hives in a Wall

A swarm on a fence or tree

AgriLife explains that a swarm is simply a honey bee colony looking for a new home. It is made up of a queen and hundreds or thousands of workers. Swarms are common in spring. AgriLife says swarming bees are usually not aggressive, and most swarms leave a resting spot within a few hours.

If a swarm is not in anyone's way, the best move is often to leave it alone and keep people and pets back. Bees are helpful insects that pollinate gardens and crops. Many local beekeepers will collect a swarm. If the swarm is next to a door, a school bus stop or someone with an allergy, your technician can help.

Bees living in a wall, roof or meter box

An established colony is a different job. Once bees build wax comb inside a wall, they store honey and raise young there. AgriLife notes that soapy water works only on exposed swarms and is not a fix for colonies in walls, hollow trees or underground.

If the colony is killed and the comb is left in the wall, the honey can melt, leak through drywall and draw other pests. So your technician will look at whether the comb can be reached and removed. In some cases, opening the wall and pulling the comb is the right fix. In others, a beekeeper can take the colony out alive. Your technician will explain the options before any work starts.

Africanized bees

AgriLife says that where Africanized honey bees are established, wild swarms may need to be controlled. You cannot tell Africanized bees from other honey bees by looking. Treat every wild colony with care, and never poke or spray a nest yourself.

Do Not Do This

• Do not spray a nest at arm's length during the day, when the wasps are active.
• Do not seal the entry hole of a bee colony in a wall. The bees will look for another way out, often into your house.
• Do not burn nests near the house, trees or dry grass.
• Do not knock down a big nest with a stick or hose.

Serving Odessa and Nearby Towns

Your technician handles wasp and bee calls in Odessa, Midland, Gardendale, Monahans and the towns around them. See the home page for all services.