What Homeowners Need to Know

Why Bees Matter in Ohio

Do you enjoy snacking on blueberries or watermelons? Those are just a couple of plants that Ohio bees pollinate. Our native bee species and honey bees have a lot of responsibilities when it comes to supporting local crops. But they’re also important for pollinating native plants, like goldenrods and asters.

All of that pollination results in a healthy ecosystem that benefits people, plants, and wildlife alike! Without bees, gardens, parks, farms, and other outdoor areas across Cincinnati, Columbus, and the surrounding areas would suffer. We might face food shortages due to poor crop yields. Birds and other wildlife that feed on plants would have a harder time finding food.

With all that being said, it’s understandable if you’re nervous about having bees in your yard or home, especially if you’re allergic to their stings. That’s where our pest control experts at ScherZinger come in. We’ll try to remove these insects from your property safely and responsibly without destroying their colonies — allowing them to continue pollinating our region! Unfortunately, sometimes destroying the colony is the only safe and effective solution.

Meet Ohio’s Native Bees

Did you know that our state has around 500 native species of bees? These buzzing insects play important roles in making sure native plants and crops are pollinated. But they’re under threat for many reasons, from pesticide use and pathogens to a decrease in potential nesting sites.

Helping residents learn more about these beneficial pollinators raises awareness of the danger they’re in, so we can all take steps to protect them. Let’s take a closer look at some of the more common types in our area.

Native bees in Ohio can be grouped into the following categories:

• Social bees
• Solitary cavity-nesting bees
• Solitary ground-nesting bees

These native species are the ones you’ll most likely see flying from flower to flower or going in and out of their nests in your yard or other outdoor areas.

Honey Bees

Honeybees are probably one of the most common bees in the United States. They are well recognized and are essential for pollination, not just for making that delicious product we love to add to our tea. They are gentle and tends to create nests up in trees.

Bumblebees 

These bees grow to be between 8 and 21 mm long as adults. You can identify them by their black, bulky bodies and fuzzy yellow hairs. Bumblebees often establish colonies underground, building nests in unused burrows. They mostly come out to pollinate when it’s overcast or cooler out.

Mason Bees

Adult mason bees are usually between 7 and 16 mm in length. These insects are either a dull metallic bluish-green color with less hair or black with light hairs all over their bodies. They tend to nest in existing holes above ground, such as hollowed out stems or empty holes that other animals make. They also line nests with layers of mud.

Leafcutter Bees 

These bees grow to be between 7 and 15 mm long. They have black bodies with dark or light hairs covering them. Why are they called that? These bees cut out circular bits from plant leaves and line their nests with these pieces. Leafcutter bees live alone but build nests close to other leafcutter bees above ground. They usually construct nests in existing burrows or holes.

Mining Bees 

These slender bees are between 5.5 and 15 mm as adults. They’re black with dark or light hairs and striped bodies. They also have a tuft of short hairs between their antennae. Mining bees build nests in the ground, mostly in sandy areas.

Sweat Bees 

These colorful bees grow between 3.5 and 11 mm as adults. Some have vivid metallic green bodies, while others have brown or black bodies with lighter bands of hair. They have a slender build, unlike bumblebees and carpenter bees. Sweat bees usually build nests in soil, with some forming colonies while others live by themselves. These are the bees you might swat away if your sweat draws them to you outdoors.

Carpenter Bees 

Larger species grow to be between 15 and 23 mm, while smaller ones grow to be between 5 and 8 mm. Large carpenter bees typically have a black, shiny body rather than a fuzzy one like bumblebees — though these two species are commonly mistaken. Small carpenter bees have a shiny, dark greenish-blue body. Carpenter bees get their name from their habit of building nests in wood, such as roof eaves or twigs.

Long Horned Bees 

Adult bees of this species are between 8 and 16 mm in length. They’re mostly black with dark or lighter colored hairs all over their bodies. They also have a stouter shape, similar to bumblebees and large carpenter bees. Long horned bees get their name from the long antennae that males have. These bees build nests in the ground and live communally or alone. They’re important pollinators of native plants, with asters being among their preferred flowers.

Squash Bees 

These are larger bees that are between 11 and 14 mm when fully grown. They have brownish bodies with striped abdomens and light hairs, along with a “nose” that seems to stick out. They get their name from their tendency to build nests in the ground near squash or pumpkins. In fact, those are the only plants from which they gather pollen!

What about honey bees? They’re actually not a native species here in Ohio — or North America in general. Honeybees are native to Asia and Europe.

The Role of Bees as Pollinators

Without bee pollination, many of our local plants wouldn’t have a way to reproduce. Native bees are vital for our ecosystem and biodiversity, ensuring that people and wildlife have plenty of food. Let’s explore the role these insects play as pollinators in greater detail.

Bee Pollination for Crops, Flowers, and Trees

All of these plants rely on bees for pollination. In fact, these insects are built to be pollinators. Do you know how bumblebees have fuzzy bodies? Those hairs help them collect pollen while they travel from plant to plant, gathering nectar. Some bees collect pollen on longer hairs on their abdomen or thorax, while others have “pollen baskets” on their back legs.

Do bees gather nectar from all different plants? Not always. Some bees only visit certain plants for nectar and pollen, like squash bees visiting pumpkins and squash. Other bees visit specific flower species in an area and ignore the rest. Does that make it harder for all plants to be pollinated? No, visiting the same flowers is beneficial since bees act as dependable pollinators for those species. With so many different bee species around, plants, in general, can count on pollination.

But it’s not just wild flowers and trees that need bees. Our agricultural crops rely on them, too. These insects help increase crop yields for apples, strawberries, blueberries, melons, and other local crops that are part of our food supply.

Pollinators, Biodiversity, and a Healthy Ecosystem in Ohio

Bees and other pollinating insects, like butterflies, directly contribute to our thriving ecosystem here in Ohio. Our ecosystem needs a diverse collection of plants and animals in order to stay healthy — and that’s what pollinators help ensure.

Native bees pollinate many types of trees, flowers, and other plants, leading to plant diversity. This wide range of plants provides shelter and food that helps wildlife species survive, attracting more wildlife diversity to our area. The end result is a healthy ecosystem with biodiversity due in large part to bee species.

Native Pollinators vs. Non-Native or Invasive Species

Again, honey bees aren’t native to our area. They do pollinate plants — mostly commercial crops. But how does that affect native pollinators? Overall, native species are better for supporting healthy pollination and biodiversity. These bees are natural pollinators for specific plants that are native to our region.

Our local bees are also more efficient, visiting plants more often and gathering and transferring larger amounts of pollen compared to invasive or non-native species, like honey bees. These non-native species can also cause problems if they pollinate invasive plants rather than native ones. When this happens, native flowers and other plants can decrease.

The Decline of Bee Populations in Ohio

Populations of native and non-native bees have been decreasing in recent years due to many factors. With these insects being so essential to our ecosystem, it’s important to understand the factors that have been leading to these declining numbers.

Contributing Factors

All of the following factors have played a role in decreasing bee populations in our state:

• Habitat loss
• Climate change
• Diseases

Clearing woodlands, fields, and other areas to build homes and businesses has led to habitat loss for bees. This land development makes it harder for bees to find suitable places to nest and/or establish colonies.

Climate change has also had an impact on native and non-native bees, interfering with their natural cycles. Hotter temperatures and changes in precipitation have also contributed to fewer food sources and habitat loss for bees.

Mites, viruses, and other pathogens have led to decreases in bee populations. In some cases, beekeepers have had to destroy honey bee colonies that have been infected. These diseases can also affect native bee species.

Effects on Local Agriculture and Homeowners

Changes in bee populations can have a negative impact on our local farms and homes. Farms stand to lose crops due to poorer crop yields when there are fewer bees around or when native bees aren’t pollinating as efficiently as they usually do.

For homeowners, habitat loss can lead to more confrontations with bees as they search for new places to build nests. Losing suitable nesting sites means they’re more likely to enter homes or build nests on residential structures, like fences or sheds. Having more bees around can also attract wasps to homes and yards. 

Bee Activity Around Your Home: What to Watch For

While bees are good to have around, they can be a problem. It’s smart to be aware of signs that these insects are active near your home, so you can determine if you’ve got an infestation or helpful pollinators around.

Common Nesting or Swarming Sites

Knowing where you might find bees helps you keep an eye out for nests so you can avoid them. Remember that some species build them underground, making them harder to spot. Others build nests above ground in more visible areas. Some common places where bees nest include the following:

• Roof eaves
• Crevices in rocks
• Hollow trees or tree stumps
• Burrows

Swarming bees are another potential concern to watch for, but note that this behavior is usually a temporary thing. Honey bees in the wild sometimes swarm while on their way to a new location. They might gather on tree branches, manmade structures, or even cars. Seeing them in huge numbers can be alarming — but they typically don’t stay long.

Helpful Pollinators vs. Potentially Dangerous Infestations

How do you know if you should leave bees alone and let them gather pollen or have them removed due to potential threats? In many cases, bees aren’t a danger to you or your property. There are exceptions, though.

Dangerous infestations can happen if you have more aggressive bees around, like Africanized honey bees. You might also need to get help removing bees if their nests or burrowing are causing damage to your home, such as carpenter bees putting holes in wood.

Seasonal Bee Behavior in Ohio

Different species may exhibit different seasonal behaviors. But many bees in our area display the following seasonal behaviors:

• Come out of hibernation and build a new colony in early spring
• Swarm while looking for places for new colonies in late spring
• Forage for nectar to feed young in summer
• Become less active in late summer and fall
• Prepare for the winter season and hibernation
• Become dormant during winter

When Bees Become a Problem

These bugs can turn into a potential threat to your safety or your property. If this happens, it’s time to bring in the professionals to handle them!

Signs That Bee Activity Is a Threat to Your Safety or Property

Watch for these signs that you have a potentially dangerous bee infestation:

• More bee activity than usual, such as entering and leaving nests, indicating increasing numbers
• Buzzing sounds inside your walls or other indoor areas
• Damage to your home, such as holes in exterior surfaces
• Clustering or other aggressive behaviors if you’re close to nests
• Bee stings, especially if you or a loved one have allergies
• Increased presence of wasps or other stinging insects drawn to bees or bee nests

Risks of DIY Bee Removal

You might be tempted to try and remove them on your own to save money or for other reasons — but this is never a good idea! DIY bee removal puts you at serious risk of being stung multiple times, especially if you’re dealing with a social bee colony, like honey bees or bumblebees. Even a solitary bee can become aggressive if you disturb its nest.

If you’re allergic to stings, the situation can become even more hazardous. Bee sting allergies can become fatal quickly!

DIY methods can also be harmful to you and/or bees. Over-the-counter pest sprays can end up hurting bees and being a danger to kids and pets in your home. Using other methods, like smoke or fire, can be dangerous to your property and kill off pollinators.

Professional Bee Removal

Calling in the experts is always the way to go when you have a bee problem in your home, yard, or business property. Avoid putting yourself at risk of stings or harming local bee populations, and let pest control professionals handle these pollinators instead!

ScherZinger’s Approach to Bee Removal

Our pest control experts don’t resort to using quick sprays or similar methods to get rid of bees. We understand how important they are for our local area, so we use humane methods to remove their nests instead of destroying them when possible. Sometimes we do need to eliminate them, but we determine if we can relocate them first. 

Our approach involves using targeted treatments and safe removal techniques that won’t put you or your loved ones at risk of being stung. Instead, you’ll have a house or yard free of dangerous bee infestations while these pollinators are busy in a new location.

We don’t just stop with treatment, though. Our team also provides prevention approaches to help reduce your risk of dealing with another bee problem, such as closing up potential entry points for bees or bee colonies.

Services for Homes and Businesses

Our pest control company offers residential and commercial services to help keep properties throughout Columbus, Cincinnati, and the surrounding areas safe from bee infestations — and other insect and pest infestations. For bees, we offer:

• Carpenter bee removal
• Live relocation of honey bees
• Bumblebee removal
• Removal of honeycomb structures and other nests
• Removal of wasps, hornets, and other stinging insects that bees attract

Quick and Reliable Bee Control in Ohio

Why call us for help? Our team is made up of licensed exterminators who have extensive knowledge of Ohio’s native bees. You’ll also get fast response times for your peace of mind!

Learn More and Protect Your Property

Ready to get help with a bee problem or other pest problem? Click for a free quote! You can also learn more about bees, including how to keep bees out and different types of stinging insects.