The sudden appearance of numerous flying insects, often perceived as an overwhelming surge of bees, typically points to a localized resource attraction or a nearby population source. While many are beneficial pollinators, others are scavengers commonly mistaken for bees. Understanding the specific insects present and what is drawing them is the first step in addressing the high level of activity. Their concentration is directly linked to the availability of food, water, and suitable nesting sites in the surrounding environment.
Differentiating Bees, Wasps, and Yellowjackets
Distinguishing between true bees and the more aggressive wasps or yellowjackets is important, as their behavior and primary attractants differ significantly. Bees, such as honey bees and bumble bees, have robust, rounded bodies covered in dense, visible hair, which aids in pollen collection. They focus on foraging for nectar and pollen, and they only sting if their nest is directly threatened or they are physically provoked.
Wasps and yellowjackets possess smooth, shiny bodies with a distinct, narrow waist connecting the thorax and abdomen. Yellowjackets display bright yellow and black markings, and as scavengers, they are more likely to interact aggressively with human food sources. Unlike the barbed stinger of a honey bee, which can only be used once, wasps and yellowjackets have smooth stingers and can sting multiple times. Paper wasps are recognized by their long, dangling legs and construct open, umbrella-shaped paper nests.
Environmental Factors Attracting High Numbers
The abundance of flying insects is often linked to a readily available food or water supply. Bees are primarily drawn to flowering plants; a seasonal peak in blooming from ornamentals or fruit trees can create a temporary foraging hotspot. They collect nectar for energy and pollen to provision their young, meaning a diverse garden will naturally attract many pollinators.
Wasps and yellowjackets are attracted to sugary substances, particularly as natural nectar sources decline later in the season. This leads them to scavenge on human food waste, such as spilled sodas, unprotected trash cans, or fermenting fallen fruit. Earlier in the season, yellowjackets also seek protein, drawing them to uncovered pet food or remnants from outdoor cooking.
Water is a powerful attractant, especially during periods of high heat or drought, as insects need it for hydration and cooling the hive. Bees are frequently drawn to shallow water sources, such as bird baths, pet dishes, or the damp edges of a saltwater pool, often preferring slight mineral content. Leaking faucets or constantly damp areas near air conditioning units can also become reliable water sources.
Understanding Localized Nesting and Hives
A persistently high number of insects indicates that a source population is established nearby, with nesting habits varying widely among species. Social yellowjackets build large, papery nests in hidden cavities, often choosing abandoned rodent burrows or concealed spaces like wall voids and attics. The entrance to a ground nest can be a small, unassuming hole in the soil, often near a tree root.
The presence of solitary bees, such as mining bees, is marked by small, volcano-shaped mounds of excavated dirt in patches of dry, bare soil. Carpenter bee females bore half-inch circular holes into unpainted wood, such as eaves, decks, and fascia boards. They tunnel into the wood to create nesting galleries, leaving behind fine sawdust (frass) and yellow-brown excrement stains near the entrance.
Honey bees construct their wax honeycomb in protected cavities such as hollow trees, sheds, or voids within walls. A sudden, temporary influx of honey bees is often a non-aggressive swarm looking for a new, permanent home. Bald-faced hornets, which are a type of yellowjacket, build large, enclosed, football-shaped paper nests high up in trees or under roof eaves.