How to Identify a Honey Bee Nest
Identifying which type of bees live on your property is the first and most important step before taking action. At The Other Bee Guy, we specialize in safe, humane, and professional bee removal and relocation, and we’ve helped homeowners throughout the region determine exactly what species they’re dealing with. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the key signs that indicate whether your nest belongs to honey bees, how to safely observe their behavior, and what to do if you discover an active hive on your property.
Understanding precisely what you’re looking at protects you, prevents unnecessary harm to pollinators, and ensures the nest is handled with the right level of care. These early observations can help you know when it’s time to reach out for professional bee removal through our expert team.
Understanding the Types of Bees That Build Nests
Most homeowners are surprised to learn that not all bees build the same type of nest—and not every flying insect near a tree or structure is a bee at all. Honey bees, bumble bees, carpenter bees, and various wasp species all create uniquely different nesting environments. Identifying the right one helps us determine the safest approach during live bee relocation.
Honey bees create colonies made up of tens of thousands of workers. Their nests are built from wax they produce, forming large layers of perfectly shaped hexagonal combs. These combs hold brood, honey stores, and pollen, and they expand as the colony grows. You may find honey bee nests inside tree hollows, wall voids, roof eaves, or even in open spaces when swarms temporarily settle.
Wasps and hornets, by contrast, build papery nests, often spherical or teardrop-shaped, made from chewed wood fibers. Bumble bees nest in small, scattered clusters, usually found in ground cavities. Carpenter bees don’t create “nests” at all—instead, they tunnel into wood to lay individual eggs.
Understanding these differences is the foundation for safely determining what’s on your property and whether a professional bee removal service is needed.
Physical Signs That Your Nest Is Made by Honey Bees
One of the easiest ways to identify a honey bee nest is by examining its structure—if it’s safe to do so from a distance. Honey bees create combs made entirely of wax, usually appearing as golden or creamy-white sheets hanging in layers. These combs often have a warm, sweet scent thanks to stored nectar, honey, and pollen.
Honey bee nests are typically well-organized and can grow very large over time. If you see bees entering a small crack in a wall, soffit, or tree cavity, it’s often a sign that the colony is hidden inside. In these cases, the hive may be entirely concealed behind siding or drywall, yet the steady traffic of bees indicates a large, active population within.
You may also notice bees returning with bright-colored pollen on their hind legs—this is a strong indicator of honey bees, as wasps do not carry pollen. Suppose you observe wax combs, honey storage, or a constant flow of gentle, golden-brown bees. In that case, you could be looking at a thriving honey bee colony that may require professional relocation through our bee hive relocation services.
Behavioral Traits of Honey Bees
Honey bees are noticeably different in temperament compared to wasps or hornets. They are naturally defensive—not aggressive—and generally only sting when they feel directly threatened or the colony is disturbed. This calm, predictable behavior is another sign that you are dealing with honey bees.
A healthy honey bee colony also moves with rhythm and purpose. You’ll see a continual flow of foragers leaving and returning in a steady pattern, often following the same flight paths. Their buzzing tends to be a soft, low hum rather than a sharp, erratic buzz.
You may also notice:
- Bees clustering around the entrance of a tree or structure
- A gentle “fanning” behavior at the entrance, helping regulate airflow
- Swarming behavior in spring, where a cluster temporarily forms on a branch
These patterns are common among honey bees and help us determine whether the nest is suitable for relocation or if it’s connected to a larger colony that needs expert handling. When we relocate a colony, we often rehome them into specialized bee nucs to ensure stability and survival.
How to Find a Bee Hive Nearby
If you suspect a honey bee colony is nesting on your property, the next step is locating the actual hive. Sometimes the hive is visible, especially when bees build in exposed areas, such as open branches or building corners. Other times, especially with colonies in walls or trees, the only visible sign is the traffic of bees entering a crack or small opening.
To locate a hive:
- Observe the bees from a safe distance and watch for consistent flight paths
- Identify any small openings where bees enter and exit repeatedly
- Check areas such as tree hollows, wall voids, roof eaves, shed corners, and fence posts
- Look for gentle buzzing or warmth around wall cavities, which may indicate stored honey and brood
Remember: never attempt to open or probe the suspected hive area on your own. Honey bees can become defensive when their nest is disturbed, and improper handling can damage the colony or cause structural issues in your home.
If you find signs of an active hive, the safest next step is contacting a professional through our bee relocation or bee removal services. We follow a proven, humane process outlined on our Our Process page and safely relocate colonies to continue producing local Florida honey—much of which ends up available as local honey.
Why You Shouldn’t Disturb a Honey Bee Nest
Once you’ve identified that a nest likely belongs to honey bees, the most important thing you can do is avoid interfering with it. Honey bees are essential pollinators, and their colonies are delicate systems that can be easily damaged by DIY removal attempts. Even well-intentioned homeowners can accidentally harm the queen, collapse comb structures, or expose brood to lethal temperatures.
Disturbing a hive also puts you and your family at risk. While honey bees are generally mild-tempered, they will defend their colony if they sense danger. Loud vibrations, smoke, knocking on walls, or scented sprays can trigger defensive behavior. In enclosed areas, this can quickly become hazardous.
Honey bees are also protected in many regions, and removing them improperly may violate local regulations. That’s why we always encourage reaching out to a licensed relocation specialist like us rather than attempting any removal on your own. Our team uses safe, humane methods that preserve the colony while ensuring your home and property remain protected.
If the hive is not posing an immediate threat, it may be safe to leave it alone temporarily. However, colonies naturally grow in size and comb weight, and over time, they can cause structural damage to walls, roofs, or trees. This is why professional assessment is crucial in deciding the right long-term solution.
Safe Removal and When to Call a Professional
Honey bee colonies require specialized handling—far beyond what store-bought sprays or DIY tricks can manage. As colony size increases, the complexity of relocating them safely increases as well. We follow a proven, detailed method to ensure the bees remain alive and healthy, and are rehomed adequately outside your property.
You should contact a professional if:
- You see heavy bee activity around a structure
- Bees are entering a hole in a wall, soffit, or tree cavity
- You hear buzzing within the walls
- The hive is exposed and within reach of children or pets
- Swarms cluster on your property and do not move after several hours
Our team at The Other Bee Guy uses specialized equipment, knowledge, and relocation techniques that prevent harm to both the bees and the surrounding structure. In most cases, we safely transfer colonies into one of our bee nucs before relocating them to a managed apiary where they can continue to thrive.
We also take time to seal entry points, remove excess comb when appropriate, and ensure bees do not return to the same spot. The entire process is outlined in detail on our Our Process page for homeowners who want to understand exactly what takes place during a removal.
If your situation requires immediate attention or you’re unsure whether the nest is safe to leave in place, our contact page makes it easy to reach out for a fast assessment.
Final Tips for Homeowners
When dealing with a suspected honey bee nest, safety and awareness should always guide your decisions. Here are a few final tips that can help you navigate the situation responsibly:
- Avoid blocking their entrance, as this can cause bees to reroute into your living spaces
- Never spray chemicals or water toward a colony
- Observe bee traffic from a distance—never try to look inside a cavity or hive
- Keep children and pets away from high-traffic areas
- Contact a professional early, especially if the colony is near entry points to your home
Suppose you’re curious about keeping bees or want to support your local pollinator population. In that case, our team can also guide bee nucs or help you access high-quality local honey from our relocated colonies.
Whenever you suspect a hive is present, the safest next step is to contact The Other Bee Guy for a professional evaluation. We take pride in relocating honey bees safely and responsibly so they can continue contributing to our environment while ensuring your home remains safe and bee-free.
If you need help with your bee nest, have questions about honey bee identification, or want expert assistance from our team, you can reach out anytime through our contact page. We’re here to protect your home, support healthy pollination, and preserve Florida’s honey bee population—one colony at a time.