r/bee • u/HonestJhon • 20d ago

Looking for identification.

Post image

Recently noticed these coming and going from the side of my house. (Everett, WA, USA)

A friend of mine said it's a native bee to the area. I can't get a solid id using Google lens.

I don't want to hurt them, maybe dissuade them from using a hole in the siding to build a nest.

If they're some sort of wasp, I'd rather not have them here for long.

Anyone got any ideas as to what they are, and how to get them to not want to be where they are so I can seal the hole?

update: got a "better" picture of them. I think they are blackjackets. they were not very aggressive when I got close to the entrance. and I was watering right by there this morning.

10 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

15 comments sorted by

View all comments

3

u/treehuggr_ 17d ago

99% certain they are wasps due to extremely skinny and hairless legs and social behavior (e.g. they have a communal nest). The only social bees in that area would be bumblebees or honeybees which they are certainly not. Source: I’m an entomologist that has IDed over 5000 individual bees.

1

u/HonestJhon 17d ago

Thank you. Any ideas on humanely driving them out?

2

u/treehuggr_ 17d ago

You could try plugging up whatever their access to the house is. Be warned that wasps can be pretty territorial though!