Stinging Insect Control
Wasp & Bee Removal in Berkeley, CA
101 Exterminators handles wasp and bee removal in Berkeley — yellow jackets in the ground and in wall voids, paper wasps under eaves, and honey bee colonies inside the walls of century-old houses. Berkeley's deep Craftsman overhangs and the dry slopes along the Tilden and Wildcat Canyon boundary give both groups exactly what they nest in. Our technicians work in full protective equipment. SPCB Lic. #9119, since 2005.
Warning Signs
Signs You Need Wasps & Bees Service in Berkeley
We treat yellow jacket nests (including in-ground and wall-void nests), paper wasp nests under eaves and overhangs, European and bald-faced hornet nests, and mud dauber tubes. For honey bee hives established in walls or structures, we provide complete treatment and nest removal including comb excavation to prevent future odor and secondary pest attraction. For accessible swarms, we can arrange transfer to a local beekeeper.
Visible nest under eaves, in shrubs, attached to window frames, in tree cavities, or in attic vents
Repeated wasp activity near a specific location on the structure — nest is likely nearby
Wasp or bee activity around a specific gap, crack, or vent opening — indicates cavity nest inside
In-ground yellow jacket activity — small hole in soil or mulch bed with wasps entering and exiting
Honey bee swarm visible on a tree, shrub, or structure — usually a temporary cluster
Buzzing sounds within walls, soffits, or chimney area — established honey bee hive
How It Works
Our Wasps & Bees Process in Berkeley
Every job follows the same methodical approach — no shortcuts, no guesswork. Here is what to expect when you work with us in Berkeley.
Species & Nest Location
We identify the species and locate all nesting sites, including in-wall or structural voids that require special access. Species determines the treatment approach.
Treatment in Protective Equipment
Our technicians treat nests in full protective equipment — veil, suit, and gloves. Evening treatment is preferred for ground nests when foragers have returned to the nest.
Nest Removal
After treatment, accessible nests are physically removed. For wall-void nests, we advise on comb removal to prevent secondary pest attraction from wax, honey, and larval material.
Entry Point Sealing
We seal entry points used by cavity-nesting species to prevent re-colonization by a new colony in the same location.
Why 101 Exterminators
Wasps & Bees You Can Count On in Berkeley
Bee Relocation Option
When possible, we work with local beekeepers to relocate honey bee swarms and accessible hives rather than exterminating them. Good for bees, good for local agriculture.
Wall-Void Nest Removal
Nests inside walls require more than just treatment — the comb must be removed to prevent honey seepage, secondary pests, and odor. We handle the complete remediation.
Same-Day Service for Emergencies
A wasp nest near an entry door, child's play area, or pet run is a safety emergency. We prioritize same-day or next-day service for these situations.
Evening Ground Nest Treatment
Yellow jacket ground nests are treated at dusk when the full colony has returned, maximizing effectiveness and minimizing any risk of disrupted forager activity.
Common Questions
Wasp & Bee Removal FAQs for Berkeley
Why are yellow jackets suddenly everywhere in my Berkeley yard in September?
The colony is at its yearly peak. Yellow jacket nests grow all season and hold the most workers in late summer, and by September the foragers are ranging widely and are aggressive about protein and sugar — which is why they find the grill, the drink can, and the compost. The nest itself is usually within a short distance, often in a ground hole or under a retaining wall. Finding and treating that entrance is what actually ends it.
There are honey bees living in the wall of my Berkeley brown shingle — can they be relocated?
An accessible swarm that is still clustered on a branch or a fence can often be transferred to a local beekeeper, and we prefer that outcome. Once a colony has moved into a wall cavity and drawn comb, relocation is rarely practical, and the work becomes treatment plus full comb removal. Leaving comb in the wall of an older Berkeley house causes honey to seep through plaster and attracts ants, beetles, and rodents later.
Are the wasps under my Berkeley porch eave the same as the ones in the ground?
Usually not. The open, upside-down paper comb hanging under an eave or a porch ceiling is a paper wasp nest — smaller colony, slower to defend, visible cells. Yellow jackets build an enclosed papery nest hidden in a ground burrow or a wall void, with a stream of insects going in and out of one small hole. The ground nests are the ones that put people in urgent care, and they are treated differently.
Local Pest Pressure
Common Pests We Treat in Berkeley
Every area has its own pest profile shaped by climate, housing, and geography. These are the pests we see and treat most often in Berkeley — tap any one to learn how to identify it and what treatment involves.
Wasp & Bee Removal · Berkeley
Free Limited Wasps & Bees Inspection in Berkeley
CA licensed and insured. Written estimate before any work begins. Same-day response available for urgent situations in Berkeley.