Stinging Insect Control
Wasp & Bee Removal in Palo Alto, CA
101 Exterminators handles wasp and bee removal in Palo Alto, licensed in California under SPCB Lic. #9119 and working Santa Clara County since 2005. Yellow jacket pressure builds through late summer here, especially on properties bordering the grassland and oak woodland at Pearson-Arastradero and the Foothills preserve. For honey bee swarms we arrange relocation to a local beekeeper wherever the colony is still accessible.
Warning Signs
Signs You Need Wasps & Bees Service in Palo Alto
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 Palo Alto
Every job follows the same methodical approach — no shortcuts, no guesswork. Here is what to expect when you work with us in Palo Alto.
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 Palo Alto
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 Palo Alto
Yellow jackets are coming out of the ground on the Arastradero side of my yard. What now?
Mark the opening from a distance and stay off that part of the yard until it is treated. In-ground yellow jacket nests use abandoned rodent burrows, which is why properties along the Pearson-Arastradero and Foothills interface get them so often, and the entry hole gives no sense of the size of the colony below. Disturbing it — a mower, a shovel, a hose — triggers a defensive response from the whole nest. Treatment goes into the entrance, usually at dusk when the foragers are back inside.
Will you kill honey bees found in a Palo Alto wall?
We try not to. Where a swarm is accessible and has not yet built comb, we can arrange transfer to a local beekeeper. Once a colony is established inside a wall or floor void, relocation is often not possible and the priority becomes complete removal of the comb along with the bees — honey left in a wall ferments, runs, stains and draws ants and rodents for months afterward. We tell you which case you have once we open the area and look.
Why do paper wasps keep nesting under the same Eichler overhang every year?
Because the site works: a wide, sheltered horizontal surface with a rough underside, out of the rain, warm in the afternoon and undisturbed. Post-and-beam houses in Palo Verde and Greenmeadow have exactly that in the deep overhangs, exposed beam ends and open carport ceilings. Removing last year's nest matters less than the quality of the site — new queens choose on shelter and aspect, not on old comb. Treating and clearing nests early in the season, before the colony grows, is what keeps the count down.
Local Pest Pressure
Common Pests We Treat in Palo Alto
Every area has its own pest profile shaped by climate, housing, and geography. These are the pests we see and treat most often in Palo Alto — tap any one to learn how to identify it and what treatment involves.
Wasp & Bee Removal · Palo Alto
Free Limited Wasps & Bees Inspection in Palo Alto
CA licensed and insured. Written estimate before any work begins. Same-day response available for urgent situations in Palo Alto.