Bumble Bee Control in Schertz, TX
What Schertz homeowners usually notice is a cluster of chunky, hairy bees banded in black and yellow, going in and out of the same spot at ground level, often under a pile of stored lumber, a tarp, an old cushion or the floor of a run-down shed. If that spot is out of the way, the kindest and easiest move is to leave it; the colony dies off in late fall on its own. When it sits beside a door, a walkway or a play area, or a household member reacts badly to stings, you can book online or call or text (210) 281-1064 for an inspection.
Bumble bee or carpenter bee? #
The two get confused all the time, and the answer changes what you do.
- Bumble bee: about 3/4 inch, robust and hairy all over, including the top of the abdomen, usually banded black and yellow. Lives in a colony, typically at or below ground level.
- Carpenter bee: similar size, but the top of the abdomen is shiny and mostly bare. Bores round holes into wood trim, decks and fences. See carpenter bee control in Schertz.
Texas A&M's bee inspection service counts nine bumble bee species in Texas and calls them ground-nesters that move into an existing cavity rather than digging their own. Our bumble bee guide covers the species in more detail.
Where a Schertz colony moves in #
Because they will not dig, bumble bees look for a ready-made hollow. AgriLife's list of nest sites includes old rodent burrows, abandoned bird nests, tufts of dry grass, old buildings and cushions left outdoors; Insects in the City adds hollow logs, rotten stumps and rubbish piles.
That list overlaps neatly with two items the City of Schertz names among its most common code violations: trash, debris and junk piling up, and substandard housing or dangerous structures (Schertz Code Enforcement). An old couch left by the fence, a heap of scrap wood behind the garage or a sagging outbuilding offers just the sheltered cavity a queen wants in spring. Clearing those piles before March removes many of the options.
Check these spots when you see bees circling low:
- Stored lumber, pallets and tarps
- Old furniture, cushions and mattresses kept outside
- Under shed floors and porch steps
- Compost and brush piles
- Thick, matted grass along fence lines
Should the nest stay or go? #
Bumble bees are our only native social bees and important pollinators, and several are drawing conservation attention. In a September 2021 finding, federal wildlife officials said listing the American bumble bee, a species found in Texas, may be warranted, and they began reviewing its status. A USFWS notice from January 2026 still treated it as unlisted (Federal Register). A study funded by Texas Parks and Wildlife reports that three Texas species, including the American bumble bee, are state Species of Greatest Conservation Need.
No Texas rule we could find forbids taking out a bumble bee nest on private land. Still, a colony that is not bothering anyone is usually worth leaving. The nest is not permanent: a colony produces new queens and males in mid to late summer, then dwindles and dies as fall ends, leaving only the young queens to overwinter.
What to do this week #
- Note exactly where the bees enter, from a distance.
- Keep children, pets and the mower away from that spot.
- Leave bees on flowers alone; they rarely sting while foraging.
- Never spray flowers to get at bumble bees. AgriLife says sprays should never be put on blooms for bumble bee control.
- If anyone at home is allergic to bee or wasp stings, do not try to deal with the nest yourself.
A bumble bee does not lose its stinger the way a honey bee does, so one bee can sting repeatedly, and AgriLife warns that a disturbed colony may defend it as a group.
What a Pest Trappers visit looks like in Schertz #
The technician confirms they are bumble bees and not carpenter bees or yellowjackets, finds the nest entrance and talks through whether it can stay until fall. When a colony does need to go, they explain the options, treat only the nest itself and follow the product label to the letter. You get a price after the inspection. The work is done under the Texas Department of Agriculture license held by Pest Trappers LLC (TPCL #0887549), a family-run company. Our Schertz page covers the other pests we treat in the area.