Extermination and Hive Removal

Safety: Before any treatment, the technician suits up in protective bee gear and secures the area based on where the hive sits and how likely passersby are to be stung. We recommend clearing people out of the affected commercial space while the work is under way. If bees could escape into a neighboring suite or another part of the building once treatment starts, that area should be cleared as well.

Treatment: The approach depends on where the colony has settled.

• Exposed hive. When the comb hangs in the open, such as from a tree limb, an overhang or a sign, the technician soaks the outside of the cluster with a soap-and-water solution from a power or backpack sprayer. Soapy water clogs the tiny breathing openings along a bee’s body, so bees hit by the spray quickly stop moving. The technician keeps spraying the cluster and any bees that come out until the activity and buzzing stop.
• Hive inside a wall or enclosed space. The technician first maps the colony, listening through the wall for buzzing and watching where bees fly in and out. One or more small holes are drilled close to the hive, and an insecticide dust labeled for bees is puffed into the void. The holes are plugged and the material is given time to work, which can take several hours. A pheromone glue board set nearby catches stragglers.

Bee and Hive Removal: Once the colony is dead, the cavity is opened so the comb, honey and dead bees can come out. This step matters. Comb left in a wall can melt in Florida heat, soak through drywall, give off odors and draw ants, roaches, wax moths and new swarms. Everything removed is bagged and taken off site for disposal.

Repairs: When the colony was in a wall or ceiling, the opening is closed with the original materials that were removed for access. When those pieces cannot be reused, a temporary cover goes over the opening. Repairs, painting and exclusion or sealing work are not part of this service, so you may want a contractor to finish the wall.

Clean-up: Reasonable cleanup of the work area is included.

Communication: Clear communication is part of every job.

• When the work is finished, the technician goes over what was done, in person or by phone. You will also hear what to expect next. A few straggler bees often return to the spot for a day or two, and they will die off or move on.
• The technician double-checks the completed work and makes sure your questions are answered before leaving.
• A bee colony is costly and disruptive, so we also talk through monitoring options that can help keep the next swarm from settling on the property.

Bee Monitoring Options

Smaller commercial properties: Scout Trap Placement and Monitoring. Before a swarm moves, it sends scout bees ahead to find a new home. A pheromone-baited trap placed on the property draws in and holds those scouts, so they cannot report back and lead the swarm to your building. The number of traps depends on the size of the structure, and traps are checked quarterly. If a hive turns up between scheduled visits on a property with scout traps, Florida Bug Control handles it at no extra charge.

There is no long-term contract, and bee monitoring can be added to a regular commercial pest control service. Learn more about preventative bee monitoring.

Larger properties: Swarm Trap Placement and Monitoring. Apartment complexes, golf courses and other large sites can use swarm traps instead. These bucket-style units are baited with pheromones and offer a swarm what looks like an ideal nest site. A swarm that moves in is held inside the trap, away from buildings, where it can be dealt with before it causes trouble. Like the scout traps, swarm traps come with no long-term contract.