Honey Bee Removal and Control in the Phoenix Valley

  • Decades of Local Expertise

  • Experienced, Trustworthy, and Licensed Technicians

  • Family-Owned with a Strong Community Connection

  • Eco-Conscious Approach to Pest Control

Honey bees are vital for the environment on many levels. Primarily, they’re essential to the food supply by fertilizing crops through pollination. Moths, butterflies, and some other species are excellent pollinators, but they pale compared to honey bees. Some estimates suggest that the pollination from honey bees helps farmers save billions of dollars yearly on fertilization. Manual processes are also time-consuming, which could cause problems with other agricultural areas.

Besides contributing massively to food production, honey bees are essential to biodiversity. Bees pollinate shrubs, trees, and wildflowers to help ensure beauty and natural biodiversity. Their pollination enriches gardens and other landscapes, allowing various plants to thrive in certain areas.

There are many other reasons honey bees are of the utmost importance to the environment. Apart from helping produce a large portion of our food supply, they also provide about 50% of all the world’s oil fibers, such as cotton seed oil. Additionally, they’re used to create various medicines, and they provide cover and food for some animals, keep waterways clean, reduce the risk of soil erosion, and contribute to oxygen production. They also absorb CO2 which helps to curb climate change.

Our Process

  • Even though honey bees are invaluable, having them inside the walls of the house is not safe. Rather than destroying their nests, Russell Pest Control first sends a beekeeper to the site to relocate them. We work with numerous experienced beekeepers in the area who understand the importance of this species. Their work helps preserve biodiversity by reducing the need to destroy nests.

  • Generally, honey bees benefit the ecosystem and global climate, but not all the time. Sometimes the bees build a hive within the walls of a home, which can be dangerous to the residents. Honey bees become agitated when close to humans and display aggressive behavior if they feel threatened. Consequently, the family is at risk, which is even more problematic if children are around as they could accidentally disturb a beehive and provoke an attack.

    Russell Pest Control is available to prevent this scenario. Our pest control specialists can use various methods to eliminate bees and safely neutralize the residents’ threat. For example, we can spray or dust potent substances into the bees’ access points to eradicate them over time. The treatment is effective against adult species but doesn’t harm any eggs they may have laid. Therefore, the larvae keep growing and will hatch eventually, ensuring the bees can continue to breed while protecting the family from stings.

OUR REVIEWS

Our Service Area

Our service area covers all cities Valleywide, including Phoenix, Carefree, Cave Creek, Chandler, Fountain Hills, Gilbert, Glendale, Good Year, Mesa, Paradise Valley, Peoria, Scottsdale, Sun City, Surprise, Tempe, Rio Verde, Ahwatukee, North Mountain, Camelback East, Deer Valley, and more. If you aren’t sure whether or not we service your area, call us!

Phoenix Neighborhoods We Serve

Grandview, Liberty, Wild Flower, Westgate, Arrowhead Ranch, North Mountain Village, Maryvale Village, Encanto Village, Deer Valley, Peoria, Hillcrest Ranch, Mountain Cove, San Estrella Estates, PebbleCreek, Encore at Eastmark, Desert View, Central City, Eastlake Park, Coronado, Windsor Square, Willo, Sunnyslope, Nuestro Barrio, North Gateway, Maryvale Village, Estrella, Tatum Ranch, Biltmore, Papago, Squaw Peak, Kierland, Desert Ridge, Pleasant Valley Estates, Laveen, Melrose, Oakland, Royal Palm, Washington Park, Midtown, East Orangewood, Moon Valley, Autumn Ridge, Basking Ridge, Sweetwater Ranch, Heritage Terrace, McCormick Ranch, McDowell Mountain Ranch, Turtle Creek, Cheyenne Village, Parque Vista Estates, Norma Estates, Melrose Estates, Sun View Estates

Benefits of Honey Bee Control Services

  • While honey bees play a vital role in our ecosystem, colonies established in residential areas can pose significant safety concerns. Individuals with bee allergies face potentially life-threatening situations when living near hives, as even a single sting might trigger severe reactions requiring emergency medical intervention. Multiple stings can cause severe reactions even in non-allergic individuals, particularly for children and elderly residents. At Russell Pest Control, we prioritize protecting household members while respecting these essential pollinators. Our trained specialists implement strategic control measures, creating appropriate distance between human activity areas and bee populations. This balanced approach maintains necessary safety standards for families and pets while acknowledging the ecological significance of honey bees in our environment.

  • Established honey bee colonies inside structural voids create surprising amounts of damage over time. As hives expand, bees store substantial quantities of honey weighing up to 100 pounds within wall cavities, attic spaces, or chimneys. This weight stresses structural components while attracting secondary pests like ants and rodents. The honeycomb structure contains honey and developing brood cells, generating heat and moisture that damages insulation, promotes wood rot, and creates ideal conditions for mold growth. When colonies die naturally, stored honey ferments and seeps through drywall, causing extensive staining and odors. Our professional removal process addresses both the colony and the hive materials, preventing costly repairs that typically result from amateur removal attempts or ignoring established colonies within structures.

  • At Russell Pest Control, our honey bee management philosophy emphasizes preservation whenever feasible through specialized collection and relocation services. Our technicians receive training in bee biology and handling techniques, which allow for the safe extraction of colonies from structures and landscapes. Rather than destroying these beneficial insects, we carefully remove accessible hives and transfer them to appropriate locations where their pollination services benefit agricultural areas or natural environments. We employ specialized extraction equipment for established colonies inside walls or difficult-to-reach areas to minimize harm to the bee population. This environmentally responsible approach maintains healthy local pollinator populations while resolving conflict with human habitation. Our partnerships with local beekeepers and conservation groups further support successful relocation efforts for collected colonies.

  • Professional honey bee control services contribute significantly to maintaining healthy pollinator populations essential for local agriculture and natural ecosystems. Our services help sustain appropriate bee populations in suitable environments by implementing responsible management rather than destructive elimination. Honey bees pollinate approximately one-third of food crops worldwide, making their preservation crucial for agricultural productivity. Our relocation services move colonies from problematic urban locations to controlled apiaries or agricultural settings where their pollination services directly benefit food production. Additionally, professional management helps prevent the spread of parasites and diseases through established colonies, protecting both wild and managed bee populations. This comprehensive approach supports ecological balance while addressing legitimate human safety and property concerns.

Recognizing the Need for Honey Bee Control Services

  • Frequent Sightings of Bees Near Your Home

    Consistent bee activity around residential structures indicates an established colony nearby rather than normal foraging behavior. Worker bees typically travel up to three miles from their hive when collecting nectar and pollen, but concentrated activity, particularly near building entry points, suggests a closer nest location. Observing bees entering and exiting from the exact location on a structure—such as gaps in siding, vents, or soffit areas—strongly indicates colony establishment within the building envelope. This activity intensifies during spring and early summer as colonies expand and foraging increases. Our experienced technicians distinguish between normal transitory foraging and problematic nesting behavior by observing flight patterns, entry points, and activity timing. This allows appropriate intervention before colonies become firmly established in challenging locations.

  • Buzzing Sounds in Walls or Ceilings

    One distinctive indicator of an established honey bee colony involves audible buzzing emanating from interior structural spaces. This sound typically becomes most noticeable during quiet evenings when worker bees return to the hive and ventilation activity increases. The sound characteristic changes with colony size and activity level, sometimes described as a low humming or occasional rustling within walls. This noise becomes more pronounced as colonies grow, particularly during warm weather when activity levels peak. The location and intensity of these sounds help our specialists pinpoint colony position within structural voids, facilitating precise treatment planning. Early recognition of these auditory warning signs allows intervention before colonies reach sizes, causing significant structural damage or becoming more challenging to remove.

  • Visible Hive or Swarm on Your Property

    Spotting a swarm—a dense cluster of thousands of bees typically hanging from tree branches, fence posts, or exterior walls—indicates a colony in transition seeking new nesting sites. These temporary gatherings occur when a portion of an established colony relocates with a queen to form a new hive. While swarms remain docile during this transitional phase, they actively scout for permanent locations, often selecting structural voids in buildings. Finding an exposed honeycomb structure in exteriors, under eaves, or within accessible spaces represents a more established colony requiring professional attention. Both situations benefit from prompt, professional response—swarms can be collected relatively easily before establishing in problematic locations, while visibly established hives indicate the potential for further expansion into adjacent structural areas.

  • Honey or Wax Residue on Walls or Ceilings

    When honey bee colonies establish within structural voids, evidence eventually appears on interior surfaces as staining, moisture spots, or wax seepage. These visual indicators typically develop after colonies have existed for several months, creating substantial honeycomb and honey stores. Dark staining or sticky residue on walls or ceilings results from honey permeating through drywall or along structural penetrations as combs expand. Sometimes accompanied by a sweet aroma, these signs indicate significant colony development requiring professional intervention. Interior temperature fluctuations, particularly during hot weather, may cause honey to liquefy and leak more readily. Our thorough inspection identifies visible evidence and the actual colony location, which some distance may separate as honey travels along structural pathways before becoming visible on finished surfaces.

  • Increased Bee Aggressiveness

    Honey bee defensive behavior noticeably changes as colonies establish and grow within residential settings. Initially, worker bees focus primarily on foraging and hive construction with minimal defensive responses. However, as colonies expand and accumulate honey stores, their protective instincts intensify. Activities like lawn mowing, power washing, or construction work near established hives often trigger defensive responses as bees protect their developing colony. This heightened aggressiveness manifests as bees bumping into people (warning behavior) or multiple bees pursuing perceived threats for greater distances than typical. These behavioral changes indicate colony maturation requiring professional attention, mainly when regular outdoor activities become restricted by bee responses. Our specialists recognize these behavioral patterns while implementing appropriate protective measures during the assessment and treatment to minimize defensive reactions from established colonies.

Faq’s

  • Honey bees are not usually aggressive but defend their hive if threatened. Their stings can cause allergic reactions in some people.

  • It is not recommended. DIY removal can be difficult and may harm the bees. Professional services ensure safe relocation.

  • No, we use humane methods to safely relocate the bees to a better environment.

  • We carefully extract the bees, remove the hive, and relocate them to a safe habitat, such as a beekeeper's farm.

  • The colony can grow more prominent, causing structural damage and attracting other pests like ants and rodents.

  • Sealing entry points, removing leftover hive material, and using bee deterrents can help prevent future infestations.

  • It depends on the size and location of the hive, but most removals take a few hours to complete.

  • Some policies may cover structural deterioration caused by bees, but removal services may not always be included.

  • Avoid disturbing the swarm and contact a professional bee control service for safe relocation.

  • Yes, we provide same-day or emergency services for urgent situations.