Help with determining what type of bees these are and how we can remove them

grrltraveler · October 16, 2011, 11:58:40 PM

Oh wow, we were working the backyard today and suddenly I heard buzzing. There were a few bees flying around and I decided it was time to go inside. DH and I went in and proceeded to watch a huge swarm of bees around our pool slide. It seemed like a lot of confusion, wondering if I somehow disturbed their home wherever it was. About 20 minutes later, I was looking out the window and saw a huge black ball under our pool slide... sure enough it was the bees. This was NOT where they first were, I walked under that slide about 20 times that day and I would have heard them (I am scared to death of bees) and stayed away.

Can you tell from this photo what kind of bees they are? How can we "remove" them? DH is trying to smoke them out with a fire tonight.

I will send the photo to the webmaster and hopefully someone can get back to me. Thanks!
Sorry took so long to post,I was under the weather(buzzbee)

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don2 · October 17, 2011, 12:16:44 AM

Sounds like there was a colony nearby that produced a late swarm. If you are hopelessly lost then you must not be from this planet. If there are any beekeepers in your area contact them right away.
If you are located Any where in the Southern U.S.A I would be careful, they could be Americanized bees.
Hope this helps :)don2

Don't, do not mess with them at night, if you haven't already done so.

LoriMNnice · October 17, 2011, 12:21:59 AM

Your location(what city you live in) would be helpful. If they are still there tomorrow you can google for a beekeeper association near you. Just leave them alone and hopefuly once someone knows where you are located they can reply with more useful info.

Kathyp · October 17, 2011, 01:40:32 AM

leave them alone. they'll probably move on by themselves even if you can't find a beekeeper. don't smoke them, spray them with water, or....my favorite, take a fire extinguisher to them.

put a location for us. chances are there's someone around who can help you out.

did i mention....leave them alone?

grrltraveler · October 17, 2011, 11:38:34 AM

Sorry about that, I did not notice that I was "hopelessly lost". I hope the webmaster posts the photo. The crowd was a half ball shape yesterday and today is looking like more of a typical beehive shape. I can't get close enough to see anything else.

We are in Temecula CA - about an hour north and east of San Diego.

I was hoping they would've moved on last night. :(

Anyhow, we were going to find a beekeeper... just wondered if they were honey bees, someone might actually want them..

thanks for all your answers!

BlueBee · October 17, 2011, 11:52:18 AM

Quote from: grrltraveler on October 17, 2011, 11:38:34 AM
Anyhow, we were going to find a beekeeper... just wondered if they were honey bees, someone might actually want them..

Bee keepers LOVE to collect swarms for free. If you can't find a beek on this site, look on Craigslist, there is usually somebody on there looking for free bee swarms.

Kathyp · October 17, 2011, 12:44:06 PM

did you look on our map? pretty sure there are some beekeepers down your way.