Understanding Bees
Bee colonies are an important part of Florida agriculture. They produce unique varieties of Florida honey, pollinate many plants that produce fruits, vegetables and nuts, and support the livelihood of Florida beekeepers. It is not uncommon in Florida for Bees to be present in the environment, not managed by a beekeeper. Wild or, more appropriately, feral Bees have the potential to be a nuisance when found on private or commercial property, either in a swarm state or fully developed as an established colony. Established colonies build layers of wax comb, are composed of thousands of bees, make and store honey, rear brood (developing bees) and will actively defend their nest (sting). The colonies can grow quite large, often as large as the nest cavity they occupy. Colonies will have a lot of activity or "bee traffic" going into and out of a small opening of the cavity in which the bees reside. Bees can become a nuisance when they take up residence in cavities near places where people frequent, such as soffits and walls of homes/buildings, lawn debris, water meter boxes, oak trees, etc. Nuisance colonies become problematic when they pose a stinging threat to nearby humans and animals.
How we treat bees
A property owner encounters a swarm or an established colony, they have two options: have it removed alive or have it eradicated. Eradication of a colony by a certified pest control operator is often the choice when the colony is nesting in a location that does not facilitate safe removal (e.g., high up in a tree, deep in an occupied dwelling, near a school, etc.), is deemed no longer able to thrive, or poses a stinging threat to humans. It is NOT illegal for a licensed pest control company to eradicate a nuisance honey bee colony. In some cases, public safety necessitates that a given colony be eradicated. *Never attempt to remove or eradicate nuisance bees or a colony yourself. It can be dangerous and, if not done properly, a violation of state or federal pesticide laws. Get a free quote from us today
