Bee Identification

Not sure what you’re seeing? Send clear photos and your location so we can help identify the insects and recommend the right next step.

Call or Text

Not Every “Bee” Is a Honey Bee

Many stinging insects are commonly called “bees,” but not all of them are honey bees. Yellowjackets, hornets, paper wasps, carpenter bees, bumble bees, and honey bees are all different, even though they may be described the same way around a home or yard.

A-Line Apiaries focuses on honey bees. If it looks like yellowjackets, other wasps, hornets, or another stinging insect, we can point you toward a local business better suited for that problem.

What to Send Us

Send clear photos from a safe distance
Include your town or general location
Show where the insects are entering or clustering
Let us know how long they have been active
Tell us whether they are outside or inside a structure
Do not spray or disturb them if live removal may be possible

Common Questions

  • In many cases, yes. Clear photos of the insects and where they are active are often enough to tell whether they are honey bees or something else.

  • A-Line Apiaries focuses on honey bees. If it looks like yellowjackets, hornets, wasps, or another stinging insect, we may not be the right fit, but we can point you toward another local business that handles those situations.

  • If they are honey bees repeatedly entering the same opening, there may be a colony inside that requires a structural cutout.

  • That may be a honey bee swarm. Accessible outdoor swarms are usually collected at no charge when they can be safely reached and relocated.

  • No. Spraying can make identification and removal more difficult, especially if the bees are inside a wall, roofline, or other structure. If a colony is killed but the comb, honey, and brood are left behind, it can lead to odor, staining, pests, and future bee activity. Send photos first whenever possible.

  • Of course. You can send photos and your general location, and we’ll let you know whether it appears to be a honey bee situation we can help with.