Stinging Insect Control
Wasp & Bee Removal in San Francisco, CA
101 Exterminators handles wasp and bee removal in San Francisco, from yellowjacket colonies behind hillside retaining walls to paper wasp combs under an Edwardian cornice, licensed by the California Structural Pest Control Board under Lic. #9119. Where an accessible honey bee swarm can go to a local beekeeper, we arrange that instead of treating it. A nest over a shared stoop is a safety job first.
Warning Signs
Signs You Need Wasps & Bees Service in San Francisco
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 San Francisco
Every job follows the same methodical approach — no shortcuts, no guesswork. Here is what to expect when you work with us in San Francisco.
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 San Francisco
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 San Francisco
Yellowjackets are coming out of the retaining wall behind my Bernal Heights house. What should I do?
Keep people and pets off that stretch of the yard, and do not seal the opening. Western yellowjackets nest in cavities behind retaining walls, in old rodent burrows and in drainage voids, all of which San Francisco hillside lots have in quantity, and blocking the entrance pushes the colony deeper into the wall or the structure instead of ending it. The nest is treated at the entrance and then closed. These colonies peak in late summer and early fall.
Is a paper wasp nest above a shared San Francisco stoop urgent?
It is a priority whenever the nest sits over a path people use daily, and shared front steps, light wells and back stairs in San Francisco flats all qualify. Paper wasps are not aggressive at a distance but they defend the comb, and a nest above a doorway puts every resident within a few feet of it. Deep Victorian and Edwardian cornices are the favorite location because they are sheltered and undisturbed. We remove the comb rather than knocking it down, so the same spot is not rebuilt.
There are bees in the wall of my old San Francisco building. Can they be relocated?
A swarm still clustered on a branch, a fence or a cornice can often go to a local beekeeper; a colony already established inside a wall void usually cannot. Once comb is built in an old building's stud bay, removal means opening the cavity and taking out the wax and honey. Leaving it behind causes staining, odor and a second pest problem. Swarm season is spring, so an early call has the best odds of relocation.
Local Pest Pressure
Common Pests We Treat in San Francisco
Every area has its own pest profile shaped by climate, housing, and geography. These are the pests we see and treat most often in San Francisco — tap any one to learn how to identify it and what treatment involves.
Wasp & Bee Removal · San Francisco
Free Pest Evaluation in San Francisco
CA licensed and insured. Written estimate before any work begins. Urgent situations in San Francisco are prioritized.