Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
How do I get rid of bumble bees and their nests without getting stung? I am highly allergic to bee stings.
Hardiness Zone: 8a
By debra whittaker from Nahunta, GA
Call the beekeeper. Look in the yellow pages for a number. He will trap the queen and the drones will follow. Ask for a price up front. It shouldn't be very much.
Bees are on the decline in the U.S. and if you can learn to live in harmony with the bees, you will be doing a wonderful thing. All bees pollinate our food supply and are very important to our very existence!
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People who are allergic to bee stings can die from a sting. In that case, the person has to take drastic action.
Call an exterminator. They may be able to remove the bees without harming them. As for the bee stings, there is an allergy shot taken for a year that will immunize you against the stings.
My grandson was fatally allergic to them and was told one more sting would kill him. He took the series of shots, was tested and is now immune. You should at least carry an EpiPen (from the Dr.) until the situation is taken care of. This is a serious matter.
Bumble bees are not very aggressive, but if you are allergic, I suggest you call someone to see what can be done about these bees. Honey bees are a protected species, and beekeepers will come and take them away. If you live in a city or town, call the town office and see what they suggest.
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How do I get rid of bumble bees? They are drilling holes in my porch. Can anyone help me before they demolish it?
By lynn from Big Stone Gap, VA
They are not bumble bees. This was posted a few days ago and it tells in the reply post to it what they are and what sprays to use to kill them. They are a constant aggravation and are called carpenter bees that eat through wood.
By Julie
This happened to my adult son's duplex (only with yellow jackets) and his roommate sprayed pepper-spray into the holes and the yellow-jackets left. Watch out! if the wind blows the wrong way, you'll get an eye or a face full of this dangerous stuff. Make sure all kids and pets are in the house and there's no wind at all!
A second (less toxic) idea: Try covering the holes and the surrounding area with high-quality duct tape (not from the dollar store) and see if this discourages them. The barrier and the smell from the duct tape might drive them away.
By Cyinda
What you have are carpenter bees. They will also eat holes in screening. I saw a post earlier this week, also in Thriftyfun I think, that recommends putting a penny in a clear plastic bag filled w/water and hanging several of these around the area the bees are attracted to. It's supposed to make them think it is a spider, and they want to avoid spiders. I have since hung some up, and I think it is working! It's an inexpensive solution that is certainly worth a try.
By Brenda
How can I get rid of a colony of big, bumbling bees that have invaded our porch between the ceiling and roof?
Fritz from Bivalve, MD
You may want to rethink getting rid of the bumble bee's if you have flowers and/or vegetables in your yard. It's the bumble bee which pollinates and makes your vegetables grow. Without them, it's a waste of time.
You probably have wood bees. They will drill holes in your wood and hollow it out in time. One tried and true method is to get a badminton racket and whack them with it.
By Aunt Sharon from Texas
