Honey bees, paper wasps, yellowjackets, and bald-faced hornets all show up around Central Texas homes in spring and summer. They are not the same problem and they don't get the same treatment.
Honey bees: relocate when possible
Honey bees are critical pollinators. When a swarm lands on a tree branch and hasn't moved into a wall yet, we coordinate live relocation with a local beekeeper whenever feasible. Once bees are established inside a wall void with comb and brood, removal becomes a construction job — the comb has to come out or it melts and causes structural damage and secondary pest issues. Africanized colonies (common across South Texas) are treated as a safety priority, not a relocation candidate.
Paper wasps
The umbrella-shaped nests under eaves, in grills, and in playground equipment. We treat at dusk when the colony is on the nest, knock it down, and apply a residual under the eaves and around door frames to discourage rebuild. Aggressive species (yellowjackets, red wasps) get the same treatment with PPE upgraded.
Yellowjackets and ground nests
Yellowjacket ground nests in the lawn or in a wall cavity are the most dangerous stinging insect call we get. They sting in defensive swarms, and disturbing a nest with a mower is how people end up in the ER. Do not seal the exterior hole — that drives them inside the house. Call before you touch anything.
If it's a honey bee swarm hanging from a tree, you may have hours to call. If it's a yellowjacket ground nest near a walkway, treat it like an emergency. Either way, professional removal beats a can of spray and a brave moment.