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How to Get Rid of Bees Building Black Nests in Oak Trees

Many North American bee species build black nests in oak wood cavities. The cavities provide perfect shelter for bees to hibernate during the winter. They usually pose no threat to the tree and pollinate many surrounding plants and flowers. Bees can become a nuisance, however, when they build their nest in your oak trees. Bee stings can be painful and can cause allergic reactions in some individuals.

Things You'll Need

Protective wear
Commercial bee killer
Diatomaceous earth
Trash bag
Spearmint

Instructions

- 1
  Put on a face mask, tight protective clothing, safety goggles and rubber gloves. This will help protect against bee stings.
- 2
  Wait until dusk until the bees are less active and spray a commercial bee killer inside the nest. Repeat the spraying next night if there is still bee activity.
- 3
  Remove the nest from the oak tree when you are sure the bees are dead. Put it in a trash bag and discard it in an outside trash container.
- 4
  Use food-grade diatomaceous earth if you cannot spray the nest. At dusk, sprinkle some around the nest or anywhere you have seen bee activity. Diatomaceous earth is a natural pesticide and an effective bee killer.
- 5
  Plant some spearmint around your oak trees. Bees do not like the smell of the strong smelling mint and will stay away.

Insects & Science