HOW TO GET RID OF BEES A Sunshine Coast guide
A swarm has moved in. What now?
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The short answer
Migrating bees sometimes settle under eaves, under gutters or inside wall cavities. Don’t try to move or spray them yourself. Pestecute offers several options: high open nests can be sprayed, and hives inside wall cavities are treated with a high-pressure duster. If you’d rather avoid chemicals, the swarm needs to be removed. Call 0437 238 277 to talk through what suits your home.
Areas we service
- Caloundra area
- Kawana
- Mooloolaba & Maroochydore
- Coolum & the north shore
- Noosa
- Hinterland
From Caloundra to Noosa, including the hinterland. Local pages: pest control Caloundra, Pelican Waters, Caloundra West, Aura, pest control Golden Beach, Currimundi, Little Mountain, Kings Beach, pest control Moffat Beach, Dicky Beach, Kawana Waters, Mooloolaba, pest control Maroochydore, Buderim, Coolum Beach, Nambour, pest control Noosa. See every suburb we service.
Bees or wasps?
Bees are hairy and rounder; wasps are smooth with a narrow waist. Wasps need a different approach: see wasp nest removal.
Swarm or hive?
A swarm is a ball of bees hanging from a branch, fence or eave. It’s a colony on the move, resting while scouts look for a new home, and it often moves on within a day or two. A hive is bees flying steadily in and out of one gap, such as a wall cavity, roof space, meter box or hollow tree. Once bees have built comb inside a wall, they won’t leave on their own.
| Swarm | Established hive | |
|---|---|---|
| What you see | A cluster of bees in the open | Bees going in and out of one gap |
| How long | Often hours to a couple of days | Permanent until treated or removed |
| What to do | Keep clear and watch it | Call us early |
Honey bees, native bees or wasps?
European honey bees are golden-brown and hairy, and they sting. Australian native stingless bees are tiny and black, and they’re harmless: a local native bee keeper may be able to move a native hive for you. Wasps are smooth and slim with a narrow waist, and their papery nests need a different approach: see wasp nest removal.
What to do right now
- Keep people and pets awayClose nearby windows and doors and keep children and pets inside until the bees settle.
- Don’t spray or hose themHousehold insecticide and water make bees aggressive and can scatter a swarm into your wall or roof.
- Watch where they go inNote the exact gap. It tells us whether it’s an open nest, a roof or a wall cavity.
- Call usTell us where the bees are and how high, and we’ll talk you through the options.
Don't block the entrance
It’s tempting to seal the gap the bees are using, but trapped bees will look for another way out, and that can be through a light fitting or vent into the house. Leave the entrance open until the hive has been dealt with. Anyone in the house with a bee sting allergy should keep well away and have their medication on hand.
After the bees are gone
Comb and honey left inside a wall can attract other pests, and in hot weather the wax can soften and leak. With a large or long-established hive, the comb may need to be cut out and the gap sealed so a new swarm doesn’t move into the same space. We’ll explain what’s involved for your home when we quote.
When to call a professional
Bees inside a wall cavity won’t leave on their own, and the honeycomb can damage the wall. Call us early.
Questions
Will a bee swarm leave on its own?
A swarm resting on a branch, fence or eave often moves on within a day or two. Bees that have moved into a wall cavity, roof or meter box and built comb usually don’t. Keep clear and watch: if bees are flying steadily in and out of one gap, call us early.
Can bees be removed without chemicals?
Yes. If you’d rather avoid chemicals, a local beekeeper may be able to collect the swarm and physically remove it. The Queensland Beekeepers’ Association can point you to one. Native stingless bees can often be moved by a local native bee keeper instead. Call 0437 238 277 and we’ll talk you through the options for your home.
Should I block the hole the bees are using?
No. Trapped bees look for another way out, and that can be through a light fitting or vent into the house. Leave the entrance open until the hive has been dealt with, and keep anyone with a sting allergy well away.
When are bee swarms most common?
Mostly in spring and early summer, when strong colonies split and half the bees leave to find a new home. A swarm is a colony on the move, resting while scouts look for somewhere to settle, which is why a cluster can appear suddenly. Keep clear, and call us if they move into a wall or roof.
Are native bees dangerous?
No. Australian native stingless bees are tiny and black, and they don’t sting. A local native bee keeper may be able to move a native hive rather than have it treated. If you’re not sure whether you have native bees, European bees or wasps, describe them when you call.
Are bees dangerous?
Bees usually only sting when they or their hive are disturbed. Spraying, hosing or knocking a swarm makes them aggressive. Anyone allergic to stings should stay well away and keep their medication on hand. If someone has trouble breathing after a sting, call 000.
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Last reviewed 8 October 2026 by Patrick Hart, Queensland Health licensed pest controller (licence 14530).