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Beekeeper-Owned • Pesticide-Free • NW Ohio
Beekeeper vs. Exterminator: Why We Don’t Do General Pest Control
Beekeeper vs. exterminator is a real choice when something is buzzing around your house. Both can make a wasp problem go away. The difference is how they get there, and what happens to the bees and helpful insects caught in the middle.
We are a beekeeper-owned company, and we only do four things: wasp and hornet nest removal, honeybee removal and relocation, cicada killer relocation, and opossum rescue. Here is why we stay that narrow, and when you should call someone else.
How a Beekeeper vs. an Exterminator Handles a Nest
A Spray-Based Approach
- Pesticide is the main tool
- The goal is to kill whatever is there
- Honeybees are often referred elsewhere or killed
- Dead nests may be left inside walls
- Needs a pesticide applicator license
Our Beekeeper Approach
- Identify the insect first, often from a photo
- Dangerous nests are taken out by hand or vacuum
- Honeybees, bumblebees and native paper wasps are moved alive
- The nest itself is removed, not left to rot
- No pesticides, so no pesticide license is needed
What We Relocate and What We Remove
Not every stinging insect is a threat, and not every threat is a pest. That’s the heart of the beekeeper vs. exterminator question.
Always Relocated
- Honeybee swarms and colonies
- Bumblebees
- Native paper wasps
- Cicada killers near walks and patios
Removed Without Pesticides
- Yellowjackets, including wall and ground nests
- Bald-faced hornets
- European hornets
- European paper wasps
See the details on our honeybee removal, wasp and hornet nest removal and cicada killer relocation pages.
Why We Keep Pesticides Away From Pollinators
A sprayed nest is rarely the only thing that gets sprayed. Drift lands on flowers, garden beds and lawns, which is where bees forage. A beekeeper sees that cost up close, because the same bees could be the ones in our hives.
Rescued honeybees go to our sister company, The Mindful Beekeeper, where they pass through an inspection station before joining the apiary. That’s a very different ending than a trash bag. Read why beekeepers never exterminate honeybees.
When to Call Pest Control Instead
We don’t do general pest control, and we’ll tell you so. If your problem is one of these, a licensed pest control company is the better fit:
- Ants, including carpenter ants
- Termites
- Mice, rats and other rodents
- Cockroaches and bed bugs
- Ticks, fleas and mosquitoes
- Spiders and stink bugs
Not sure what you’re dealing with? Text a photo to 419-614-6445. If it’s not something we handle, we’ll say so. Our identification guide can also help.
Questions to Ask Anyone Who Removes Bees or Wasps
- What insect do you think this is, and how can you tell?
- Will the nest itself be removed, or only sprayed?
- What happens to honeybees or bumblebees if that’s what it turns out to be?
- Will any chemicals be used near my kids, pets or garden?
- Who will actually do the work?
You can read more about who we are, including the safety training behind the work.
Beekeeper vs. Exterminator FAQs
Beekeeper vs. Exterminator Basics
What is the difference between a beekeeper and an exterminator?
An exterminator’s main tool is pesticide, and the goal is to kill the pest. A beekeeper who does removals starts by asking what the insect is. Dangerous nests are taken out by hand, and bees and other helpful insects are moved alive.
Do you need a pest control license to remove wasps?
Not when no pesticides are used. Our methods are pesticide free, which is what allows a beekeeper to do this work without a pest control license.
Will a beekeeper kill a wasp nest?
Yes, when the nest puts people at risk. Yellowjackets, hornets and European paper wasps are removed. Native paper wasps, bumblebees and honeybees are relocated.
Beekeeper vs. Exterminator: Which to Call
Should I call an exterminator for honeybees?
Call a beekeeper. Honeybees can be removed alive and given a new home. Our honeybee removal service relocates swarms and colonies instead of killing them.
Do you treat ants, termites, mice or bed bugs?
No. We don’t do general pest control. For ants, termites, rodents, roaches, bed bugs, ticks or mosquitoes, a licensed pest control company is the right call.
Is a beekeeper safe for a wasp nest in my wall?
Yes. Wall nests are a big part of our work. We find the nest and take it out instead of spraying the entrance. See wasp and hornet nest removal for how it works.
Talk to a Beekeeper First
Free virtual quotes. No poison sprays. Bees and native paper wasps are always moved, never killed.
