Although Joanne is not able to respond to additional questions at this time, your concerns may have already been addressed in a previous column. Please check the Ask Joanne! Archive, which contains all the Q&As that have appeared here.

Before deciding on a solution, it is helpful to first determine what type of bees you have: yellow jackets, wasps, hornets, or mud daubers. Not all stinging insects are aggressive or necessarily dangerous, unless you or someone in your family is allergic to their bite or sting.

It is hazardous to remove stinging insect nests unless you fully understand the nature of the insect and what needs to be done to avoid serious harm. If the insects pose a direct threat, it may be necessary to call in a professional. In some areas there are professionals who specialize in the non-chemical removal of nests for certain types of stinging insects such as yellow jackets. The collected nests are then sold to pharmaceutical companies that make anti-venom from the dead insects. As an alternative, you can request that they relocate the nest to a wooded area or field. Of course, if you find a professional willing to provide this service, there would most likely be an additional charge.

Stinging insects have a short life cycle, and cold weather generally kills off the colony. Therefore, if the nest does not present a clear danger, you may want to leave it alone and simply let nature run its course.