Stinging Insect Control
Wasp & Bee Removal in San Mateo, CA
101 Exterminators handles wasp and bee removal in San Mateo, from yellowjacket ground nests to honey bee colonies inside a wall cavity, California licensed under SPCB Lic. #9119 since 2005. San Mateo's Spanish Colonial Revival stucco soffits and barrel tile roofs hand stinging insects a cavity they never have to build. Most calls here start with something flying in and out of a hole in a wall.
Warning Signs
Signs You Need Wasps & Bees Service in San Mateo
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 Mateo
Every job follows the same methodical approach — no shortcuts, no guesswork. Here is what to expect when you work with us in San Mateo.
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 Mateo
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 Mateo
Something is flying in and out under the roof tiles on my Baywood house — wasps or bees?
Watch the traffic before you do anything. Yellowjackets fly a fast, direct line, look bare and are sharply banded; honey bees are fuzzier, move more slowly, and often arrive with pollen visible on their legs. Under the barrel tile common on San Mateo's Spanish Colonial Revival houses both species will use the same air gap, so the roofline alone tells you nothing. Identification decides the method, so we confirm the species before a ladder goes up.
When are yellowjackets worst in San Mateo?
Late summer into early fall, when colonies reach peak size after the long dry stretch from May through October. Foraging also shifts toward protein and sugar then, which is why they turn up at backyard tables around Beresford Park and Central Park in August and September. Ground nests on the dry western slopes near Sugarloaf and Laurelwood Park are usually discovered by accident with a mower or string trimmer. If that happens, back off and mark the spot.
A honey bee swarm moved into my San Mateo wall — what happens to the comb inside?
The comb has to be removed, which usually means opening the wall from one side. A colony in a wall cavity builds wax comb and stores honey; if the bees go and the comb stays, it softens in warm weather, stains through drywall, and attracts ants, cockroaches and rodents into the void. The leftover scent also makes that same cavity attractive to the next swarm. We locate the cavity, plan the access, and close it so it cannot be reoccupied.
Local Pest Pressure
Common Pests We Treat in San Mateo
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 Mateo — tap any one to learn how to identify it and what treatment involves.
Wasp & Bee Removal · San Mateo
Free Pest Evaluation in San Mateo
CA licensed and insured. Written estimate before any work begins. Urgent situations in San Mateo are prioritized.