Bee Control in Schertz, TX
Bees around Schertz homes usually come down to three situations: honey bees swarming on a branch or moving into a wall, bumble bees nesting in a ground-level hollow, or carpenter bees drilling round holes in wood trim. Each needs a different response, so the first move is to watch where the bees are going in and out, keep everyone back, and avoid spraying or sealing anything until you know which bee it is. Call or text (210) 281-1064, or book online, and a technician will sort it out.
Four bees, four different problems #
- Honey bees in a cluster on a branch, fence or eave, no comb: a resting swarm. It usually moves on within hours to a couple of days. See European honey bee control in Schertz.
- Honey bees flying in and out of one gap in a wall, soffit, meter box or chimney: an established colony with wax comb inside, which stays put until someone deals with it. Because no one can tell European from Africanized bees by sight, also read Africanized honey bee control in Schertz.
- Big, hairy black-and-yellow bees going into a ground-level hole, a debris pile or under a shed: bumble bees. See bumble bee control in Schertz.
- Large bees with a shiny, bare black abdomen hovering around round holes in fascia, decks or fences: carpenter bees. See carpenter bee control in Schertz.
AgriLife's quick tell for honey bees: they are hairy and carry pollen on wide hind legs, while wasps are smooth, narrow-waisted and build paper nests (ENTO-080).
Is it really a bee? #
Two common mix-ups send people to the wrong page:
- Yellowjackets are smooth, shiny and bright black and yellow, with no pollen on their legs. TAIS notes they are often confused with honey bees. Ground or wall nests with steady traffic in late summer are usually yellowjackets. See yellowjacket control in Schertz.
- Mexican honey wasps store honey, but they are small, dark wasps that build a gray paper ball in a tree, not wax comb. See Mexican honey wasp control in Schertz.
Older Schertz homes and wall colonies #
A wild honey bee colony needs a dry cavity with a small way in, and older houses tend to offer more of those. The Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 survey shows 17.4% of Schertz homes were built before 1980 (Census ACS). AgriLife lists the openings bees use most: holes for pipes and wiring, cracks around window frames, knot holes in siding, brick weep holes, joints where wood meets brick, and chimneys without caps.
Sealing those before swarm season, which AgriLife puts at March through July in Texas, is the simplest prevention there is:
- Caulk cracks and gaps around pipes, wiring and window frames.
- Screen vents with mesh finer than 1/8 inch.
- Cap the chimney.
- Paint or replace weathered trim, which also discourages carpenter bees.
One caution: never seal a hole that bees are already using. They will move deeper into the wall or find their way indoors.
Three counties, three beekeeper lists #
Many homeowners want honey bees removed alive by a beekeeper when that is practical. TAIS, the state's apiary inspection office at Texas A&M, posts a county-by-county roster of removal beekeepers and asks residents to stick to their own county's names. That matters here because Schertz is split across Guadalupe, Bexar and Comal, with Guadalupe holding most of the city. Being on the roster is not a license or an endorsement.
Texas rules worth knowing #
- No special bee-removal license exists in Texas. Paid honey bee work is limited to registered beekeepers and licensed pest control operators, and a beekeeper without the pest control license cannot apply pesticides.
- Honey bees are not a protected species in Texas, according to the Texas A&M Honey Bee Lab.
- Bumble bees are a different story for conservation: the American bumble bee has been under federal status review since 2021, and three Texas species are state Species of Greatest Conservation Need. We found no rule against removing a nest on private property, but leaving one that bothers no one is often the better choice.
- Carpenter bees are not protected; the issue there is wood damage.
How Pest Trappers handles bees in Schertz #
The technician identifies the bee, finds the nest or entry point, and explains what can be left alone and what needs attention. When honey bees have built inside a wall or roof, the plan includes removing the comb, closing the entry and, where practical, whether a beekeeper might take the colony alive. Any product is applied strictly by its label. You get a price after the inspection. Pest Trappers LLC (TPCL #0887549) is family-owned and licensed by the Texas Department of Agriculture. Visit the Schertz service page or the honey bee guide for more.