Honeybee In My Face

[unit91]

I live in Chesterfield County, VA. Our home is surrounded by woods. Whenever we go out onto our back deck, which is elevated approximately 10 feet from the ground, a honeybee INSTANTLY appears and hovers right in front of our faces or flies around in circles very close to our heads. Our small dogs try to jump and catch it but they have been unsuccessful so far, thank goodness. This bee is so determined that we have to go back inside. This is the first summer this has happened. I'm concerned that there might be a nest/hive close by???

[BadBeeKeeper]

There might be a hive very close by, perhaps even *under* the deck. See if you can see where the bee comes from, and try scouting around/under the deck- you should be able to see activity where the entrance is located, a lot of bees coming and going.

[unit91]

Do these bees live in attics also? I haven't checked there.

[BadBeeKeeper]

Do these bees live in attics also? I haven't checked there.

Sure, could even be inside a wall, all depends on where/whether they found a hole into a cavity large enough for their purposes.

I saw a story on TV awhile ago, about a massive hive found in an attic.

[Allen Dick]

Are you sure it is a honeybee? I've heard mason bees do this.

[BadBeeKeeper]

I have mason bees here, they are a real PITA. They like tube-like setups, like the size of a drinking-straw or smaller. They build wall, stock with food for the larva, then lay and egg, build a wall and repeat. They will use any structure that will let them use this process- fuel-line tubing, etc. they have even used stacks of frame bars with grooves.

They don't do anything like a honey bee nest or other hive, and they don't hang around, they lay the eggs and go.