They are definitely bumble bees....they are furry and fat and larger than most bees. They don't really bother me... we both sort of work around each other...however, my father is allergic and it would probably be him that gets stung...so rather than kill them, I would rather deter them... I am thinking I will have to close up the holes around the door threshold next year when they are gone...or before they begin. Is there anything that deters them from wanting to nest there?