Vespula germanica

• Or noticed a buzzing noise coming from inside the house?
• If this sounds familiar, a colony of European honeybees (Apis mellifera) may be making their home in your walls.

Are they honeybees?

• Honeybees are often the culprits, but European wasps (Vespula germanica) also occasionally build their nests inside human-made structures.
• Their nests have a papery appearance and are made from chewed-up plant fibres.
• Solitary native bees such as carpenter bees, blue banded bees and teddy bear bees do not live in colonies.

How did they get there?

• In preparation, the queen bee lays eggs in special cells known as “queen cells”.
• The larvae in these cells are fed with royal jelly, which helps them develop into new queens.
• Once the new queens emerge, the old queen leaves the hive accompanied by a substantial number of worker bees.
• Now homeless, the house-hunting bees gather together in a tight cluster called a “swarm ball” on a nearby object.

What will the honeybees do to my house?

The honey and wax produced by bees can melt when the colony dies or during hot weather. This leads to stains and damage to walls, while the lingering honey may draw in rodents. The growing weight of a colony can also cause structural damage over time. While honeybees are generally not aggressive, they will sting in self-defence, particularly near their colony. Moving slowly and avoiding swatting can lower the chance of getting stung.

Dealing with honeybees in the home

• If honeybees have taken up residence in your home, ask a professional, such as a beekeeper, to remove them.
• Do not attempt to remove the bees yourself; this could be dangerous.
• Spraying insecticides or repellents into your walls may not kill all the bees and could trigger aggression.
• Even if the insecticide does kill the colony, the dead bees, wax and honey will decay and melt, creating a bigger mess and attracting pests.

Prevention is key

• Seal cracks or holes in exterior walls and put fly screen mesh over outdoor vents.
• Beekeepers can prevent swarms happening in the first place by making sure they manage their hives appropriately.
• She co-founded and works with Invertebrates Australia, a conservation organisation dedicated to the conservation of insects and other invertebrates.