How to Spot the Telltale Signs of Bees Taking Over Your Yard

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Bee buzz around pollinating flowers to make the world a bit better and green. But they can make your yard their headquarters, and that’s a little too close for comfort. A few bees visiting your flowers is normal, but a sudden uptick could signal they’re staying. It’s important to be able to recognize the signs of their growing presence before you end up in the middle of an impromptu bee convention.

Bees can be a blessing and a concern to homeowners. While they’re vital to our ecosystem, a hive in the wrong place can put you in danger, and interfere with your outdoor life. Acting early can keep both bees and you out of trouble, and knowing what to look for is the first step.

Increased Bee Traffic

Seeing more bees flying around is one of the first signs you’ll notice before the bees actually move in. You might see a few buzz around a typical yard, but if you’re seeing groups of bees flying from one place to another frequently, they could be setting up a hive nearby. Areas where they seem to linger will warrant special attention: Is this an entry point, or a food source?

Frequent Buzzing Sounds

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That gentle hum of wings that you hear while sitting on your porch? Maybe it won’t be so gentle anymore. If the buzzing is constant and especially loud, then bees have taken over. A dead giveaway that a hive may be hidden is a humming noise near walls, trees or fences.

Clusters Around Water Sources

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Bees need water to diffuse honey to feed their young, and to cool hives. If you have a birdbath, pool, or garden hose that’s become a hotspot for these little buzzers in your backyard, you might have a hive nearby. Look out for bees drinking water then flying back in the same direction.

Sightings of Scout Bees

Scout bees are like the real estate agents of the insect world. They go out looking for great places to have their colony. If you spot a single bee patrolling possible nesting sites—eaves, hollows in trees, sheds—then that’s a sign a swarm could be next.

Piles of Yellow Powder (Pollen)

If you see small yellow smudges on walls, patio furniture, or around plants, bees may be leaving you pollen as they go in and out. It’s a subtle sign, but if other indicators are also noticed, then it suggests that bees are more active in your home.

Wax or Sticky Residue

The honey and beeswax produced by hives tend to leave a trace. Waxy buildup and sticky residue on surfaces near suspected nesting areas is another sign that you may have a colony in your yard.

Visible Entry Points

Small openings are often used by bees to get into their nesting spot. These entry points can be a gap in the siding, a hollow in a tree, whether it be one or the other or both, and it can become a busy highway for worker bees. Keep an eye for them coming and going out of similar hole.

Chewed Vegetation

While bees certainly don’t eat plants like caterpillars do, they may nibble on soft things to construct their hives. If bees are foraging for building materials nearby, you would see small, frayed holes in leaves or bark.

Sightings of Dead Bees

If you see a dead bee or two that’s normal, but if you see lots of dead bees, that means there’s a nearby hive. Worker bees die naturally after a few weeks and colonies often throw out dead bees.

Swarming Activity

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This is the most obvious, and dramatic, sign. If you see a whole group of bees gathered in a single place, they’re either searching for a new home or already moving in. A swarm is only temporary, but it means an existing colony isn’t far away. What’s more, a study showed that urban bee colonies in certain U.S. regions are growing more by the years, thanks to climate change and habitat loss, so awareness is more important than ever.

Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.