Stinging Insect Control
Wasp & Bee Removal in Redwood City, CA
101 Exterminators handles wasp and bee removal in Redwood City — yellowjacket nests in the ground and in wall voids, paper wasp combs under eaves, and honey bee colonies established inside walls. California licensed, SPCB Lic. #9119. The warm dry autumn on this side of the ridge keeps yellowjacket colonies growing into October, well past the point most people expect them to quit.
Home maintenance
How do you keep yellowjackets away from a Redwood City home?
Cover food outdoors, close the cavities they nest in, and leave honey bee swarms to a beekeeper. Redwood City is warm for the Peninsula, with July highs averaging 81°F and about 18 days a year above 90°F, and yellowjacket colonies keep growing into fall. Ground nests turn up in yards near Edgewood Park, Farm Hill and the oak hills above the city.
Keep food and drinks covered
Late-summer yellowjackets scavenge meat and sweet drinks. Keep lids on garbage and compost, clear plates after patio meals, cover drinks outdoors, and pick up fallen fruit.
Watch for small holes with traffic
A ground nest looks like a small hole with yellowjackets flying in and out. Check lawns, slopes and retaining walls in early summer while nests are small, and mark any you find.
Fill burrows in spring
Queens start nests in empty rodent burrows. Fill and tamp abandoned gopher and vole holes in spring, before nests begin, on lots near Stulsaft Park and the Edgewood grassland.
Seal eave and siding gaps in winter
Paper wasps hang open combs under eaves, and yellowjackets nest in wall voids through siding gaps. Caulk cracks and replace damaged vent screens in winter, when no colony is active.
Leave nests and swarms to the right people
Don’t plug, spray or dig out a nest; keep people and pets away and have it removed. A hanging honey bee swarm in spring is resting, so call a local beekeeper to collect it.
When to do it
Seal gaps in winter, fill burrows in March and April, and keep food covered from July through October.
Maintenance guidance: San Mateo County Mosquito and Vector Control District, Yellowjackets
Warning Signs
When to Ask About Wasp & Bee Removal in Redwood City
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
What to Expect from Wasp & Bee Removal in Redwood City
Tell us where the nest or activity is and whether people need to pass close to it. Avoid disturbing the nest while we discuss the next step.
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
Why Choose 101 Exterminators for Wasp & Bee Removal in Redwood City
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.
Urgent Situations Come First
A wasp nest near an entry door, child's play area, or pet run is a safety emergency. We move these ahead of routine work.
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 Redwood City
Why are there so many yellowjackets in Redwood City backyards in September?
Because the colony is at its yearly peak and the workers have switched to hunting protein and sugar. Yellowjacket nests grow all summer, reach maximum population from August into October, and Redwood City's warm dry fall keeps them foraging longer than the fog-belt coast does. That is when they find patio food, garbage cans and hummingbird feeders. Locating and treating the nest is what stops it — trapping foragers only thins the ones already out.
There are bees going into a wall of our Mount Carmel house — is that a swarm?
If they are going in and out of one specific gap all day, that is an established colony rather than a swarm. A swarm is a temporary cluster hanging on a branch or fence and it usually moves on within a day or two. A colony inside a wall builds comb and stores honey, and removing the bees without removing the comb leaves wax and honey that attract ants, roaches and rodents. Wall colonies need the cavity opened and cleaned.
Can honey bees found on a Redwood City property be saved?
Accessible swarms can often be transferred to a local beekeeper, and we arrange that where the situation allows. Established colonies inside a wall, chimney or roof are a different matter, since the comb has to come out and the cavity has to be cleaned regardless. Call before disturbing them — an agitated colony in an occupied wall is harder and riskier to handle than one left alone.
Local Pest Pressure
Common Pests We Treat in Redwood City
Every area has its own pest profile shaped by climate, housing, and geography. These are the pests we see and treat most often in Redwood City — tap any one to learn how to identify it and what treatment involves.
Wasp & Bee Removal · Redwood City
Schedule Service in Redwood City
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