Bees, Wasps And Hornets

Most flying insects’ activity is limited to a few months in the year. Canadian bees are active from April to September while hornets and wasps are also active from April to September. 

Bees will rarely sting you, as it often kills them. They pose the least threat of the three to you or your family. However, wasps and hornets can get quite aggressive and can both bite and sting you.

Some people may have serious allergies to bees, wasps, or hornets, and can suffer from an anaphylactic reaction if stung. For people who aren’t allergic, the sting/bite still hurts quite a bit and can cause swelling, redness and tenderness.

If you spot a nest, it can be very tempting to try and remove it yourself. However, trying to learn how to remove a bee hive or a wasp nest will often end up resulting in serious injury. When the nest is disturbed, it can often result in these insects swarming you and biting or stinging you repeatedly, which can be very painful and overwhelming for your body to handle.

Bees feed on flowers so if you have a lush garden in your backyard, you’re going to attract bees to make their home there.

Wasps primarily feed on nectar and fruit juices from plants. However, many of the wasps that humans encounter are carnivores that scavenge for their food. This is why you’ll often be bothered by wasps when enjoying food outside. They tend to prey on other insects, which is why some people enjoy having them in the backyard as they’ll feed on pests eating your garden. Spotting one or two wasps in your backyard isn’t a cause for concern. When they begin to nest in your backyard or home, that’s when you have a problem.

Hornets are similar to wasps in their feeding habits, primarily feeding on fruit juices and nectar. They also enjoy sweet liquids like pop. Their young ones feed on larvae carrion, prepared meat and soft-bodied insects.

There are more than 800 species of bees and more than 500 species of wasps living in Canada. There are many species of hornets in Canada including European Hornets, Western Hornets, Common Hornets, Norwegian Hornets, Northern Aerial Hornets, and Bald-faced Hornets.

Make sure that all entry points to your home are sealed, including any cracks, windows or doors to prevent them from entering your home or building a nest in your home.  

Make sure all garbage bins and other areas containing food waste are sealed tightly. Keep all food outside closed with tight fitting lids, clean up spills or crumbs immediately and reduce all available food sources.  

If you spot an old nest that is no longer in use, make sure to discard of it as not to give new wasps any ideas. Reduce future nesting sites by trimming brushes and vegetation back.