05/28/2026
This has been an incredibly busy swarm season, and we are receiving calls almost daily. Many swarms have already begun setting up new hives, especially under structures and inside cavities around homes and buildings.
We have also had several repeat calls from locations where swarms were removed last year. Bees are constantly searching for safe, proven places to establish colonies, and if scents, comb, or access points remain, they may return to the same location year after year.🐝🐝🐝
Because of this, I follow a specific cleanup and prevention procedure after every removal to help reduce the chances of bees coming back the following season.
Once bees have been removed from a location, it’s important to take steps to prevent new swarms from moving back into the same spot. Bees are attracted to areas that still smell like a previous colony, especially if honeycomb, wax, or pheromones remain behind.
Scrape and remove every bit of comb and residue possible
* Wash the cavity with hot soapy water or a vinegar/water solution
* Let it dry completely
* Seal all entrances and cracks
* In structures, repainting or sealing wood can help lock in lingering odors
If you use diluted bleach water, use it lightly and only on hard non-porous surfaces. Heavy bleach use can damage materials and isn’t great environmentally. It also won’t stop bees if wax or hive scent remains hidden deeper in the cavity.
You can also use:
* Citrus oil products
* Almond oil
* Commercial bee repellents
* Kilz or sealing primer after cleanup
The biggest factor is eliminating the “this was a good hive location before” smell and preventing access back into the cavity.
