Why Most Pest Control Companies Get Honey Bees Wrong

Honey bees (Apis mellifera) are not yellow jackets, hornets, or wasps. They're a protected pollinator species, a national agricultural asset, and — when removed correctly — a healthy resource that can be relocated to a working apiary. Spraying a honey bee colony in a wall is illegal in many situations, ecologically destructive, and creates a structural mess (a dead colony rots, attracts pests, and leaves wax and honey behind that need to be removed anyway).

We're listed swarm collectors with the Pennsylvania State Beekeepers Association and the Capital Area Beekeepers Association. The Alleman Apiary (our beekeeping operation) takes every colony we collect. Removal is live, humane, and ends with the colony in a managed hive — not a trash bag.

Beekeeper conducting live honey bee removal from a residential structure in Harrisburg, PA showing exposed brood comb during a professional cutout — A live cutout in progress at a Central PA home — exposed brood comb being lifted into transport frames for relocation.

Honey bee colony established inside a wall void of a Central PA home with substantial natural comb visible after removing the exterior siding — An established colony inside the wall void of a Hershey-area home — colonies this size require structural cutout, not extermination.

Types of Removal We Do

Swarm Capture (Free or Low-Cost)

A swarm is a temporary cluster of bees on a tree branch, fence post, mailbox, or low shrub — usually a baseball to basketball-sized ball of bees. They're docked between hives, looking for a new home. Easiest, cheapest removal. Call us within a day or two — they'll leave on their own and find a wall void if you wait.

Structural Cutouts

For colonies that have established inside a wall, soffit, ceiling, chimney, or shed. Requires opening the structure to access the comb. We coordinate with siding/drywall repair where needed. Significantly more involved than swarm capture, priced accordingly.

Trap-Outs

For colonies in spots that can't be opened — masonry chimneys, certain tree cavities, historic structures. We install a one-way exit cone with a bait hive. Bees leave to forage, can't return, and accumulate in the bait hive over 4–6 weeks. Slowest method but sometimes the only option.

Honey Bee Identification

Often what looks like honey bees is actually yellow jackets, bumble bees, carpenter bees, or paper wasps. We identify by photo (text us one) before quoting — pricing and approach are wildly different. Don't pay honey bee removal pricing for a yellow jacket nest.

Post-Removal Repair Coordination

Cutouts leave a structural opening that needs siding, drywall, or soffit repair. We don't do the repair work ourselves but we coordinate with contractors we trust if you need a referral.

Colony Inspection & Re-Hiving

Every removed colony gets inspected for varroa mites, brood disease, and queen health at the apiary. Healthy colonies join managed hives; struggling colonies get split, requeened, or combined as needed.

Service Area — All of Central PA

Dauphin County: Harrisburg, Hershey, Hummelstown, Palmyra, Linglestown, Colonial Park, Susquehanna Township, Lower Paxton.
Cumberland County: Camp Hill, Mechanicsburg, Carlisle, Lemoyne, Wormleysburg, New Cumberland, Enola, Boiling Springs, Dillsburg.
Lebanon County: Lebanon, Annville, Cleona, Palmyra (Lebanon side).
York County: Mount Wolf, Manchester, Dillsburg-area properties on the York side.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I tell if I have honey bees or yellow jackets?

Honey bees: fuzzy, golden-tan, working flowers, building wax comb you can see inside the cavity. Yellow jackets: smooth, bright yellow and black bands, aggressive, building gray papery nests. Send us a photo (text 717-379-3248) and we'll identify. Most "bee" calls turn out to be yellow jackets — we handle those too, but as pest control, not bee removal.

What does honey bee removal cost?

Swarm capture: often free or under $100 (we get a colony, you get them out). Structural cutouts: $400–$1,200+ depending on access, location, and colony size. Trap-outs: $300–$600. Cost depends heavily on the property — we quote each one specifically.

Should I just spray them myself?

No. Spraying a honey bee colony in a wall does three bad things: it kills a protected pollinator, the dead colony rots and attracts rodents and beetles, and the residual wax and honey ferment and leak. Cleanup costs more than the removal would have. Also illegal under certain Pennsylvania pollinator protections.

How fast can you respond?

Swarms are time-sensitive — same-day or next-day response in season (April through July). Structural removals are scheduled, usually within 1–2 weeks. We hold same-day capacity for active stinging emergencies that involve a misidentification.

Do you handle other stinging insects?

Yes — yellow jackets, hornets, paper wasps, carpenter bees, bumble bees. Most of those are pest control work, not honey bee removal. See yellow jacket removal or stinging insects.

Honey Bee Removal in Central PA