Visually, they look like bumble bees but are bigger and black. If you're brave, you might find yourself practicing your tennis swing on them or maybe even using a pan head shovel to swat them down. The bees aren't very fast moving -- just don't miss! ;-)
The bees tend to return to the same place each year and are really hard to get rid of. There's a good write-up on bee psychology at the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture website.
When the exterminator came to treat my infestation, they used 4 chemicals, some of which supposedly aren't available at retail outlets (i.e., only available to licensed exterminators). At the time I had the work done (in the Spring of 2006) they charged $80 and guaranteed results for this year. In other words, the following spring, they wouldn't guarantee results for any new larvae.
The products they used were:
- Wasp Freeze - quick kill of stinging wasps and hornets . . .does not leave a long term residual (is absorbed into the wood).
- Demon WP - longer residual effect than Wasp Freeze . . .3-4 months. Stops bees from smelling decay odor put off by wood and keeps them from boring new nests.
- Intruder HPX - put in cracks and crevices to allow bees to carry into nests. Best sprayed in evening . . .causes bees to go neurotic and leave "safe places", which then subjects them to other listed poisons
- Drione Dust - flea powder-like substance . . .isn't absorbed into the wood, provides quick knock-down and residual control (1 year) against bee larvae. Plug holes with 1/2" dowel or cork after treated.
- Wasp Freeze and Drione: $44 for a 2 cans of Wasp Freeze and 1 lb. of Drione dust or $7.50 for a can of Wasp Freeze
- Demon WP: $19.50 for 2 to 4 gallons (sold in powder form)
- Intruder HPX: $13.90 for 14 oz
