Swarm Removal
This page covers removing honey bee swarms that are out in the open, such as a cluster on a branch or eave, before the bees have moved into a wall or built comb.
Africanized honey bees are established in much of Florida, and they cannot be told apart from gentler European bees just by looking. For that reason, any wild swarm near people or animals deserves caution. When a colony gets crowded, part of it leaves with the old queen to find a new home. Swarms are most common in spring but can happen in other months. Along the way the swarm settles in a clump to rest, for hours or a few days. A mass of bees beside a doorway or walkway can worry customers and staff.
Every swarm job starts with an INSPECTION. The technician talks with you about where the bees are, how long they have been there and who uses the area, then looks over the cluster to confirm the IDENTIFICATION and make a DETERMINATION of the safest way to handle it. Since bees can sting, you will be asked to stay back during this step.
- Safety – Before getting close, the technician suits up in full bee protection and stays suited until the job is finished. The area around the swarm is closed off based on where it sits and how likely passersby are to be stung.
- Cluster knockdown – When the location allows, a plastic sheet is spread under the swarm to catch falling bees. The technician then sprays the cluster with a mix of water and liquid soap, which coats the bees and keeps them from breathing. The outer layer is soaked first. As those bees drop, the wand is used to work through the cluster and expose the bees underneath, and spraying continues until every bee has been wetted.
- Dead bee removal – Fallen bees are gathered into heavy plastic bags, and hard surfaces like sidewalks and patios are swept clean with a broom and dust pan. The bags are tied off and taken away from your property for disposal.
RECOMMENDATION – Monitoring Coverage
Properties that draw repeat swarms can benefit from ongoing monitoring. See preventative bee monitoring for details.
- For smaller commercial sites – Scout Trap Monitoring – Scout bees fly out ahead of a swarm to look for a new home, then return and lead the rest of the colony to it. A pheromone trap placed on the property catches those scouts before they can report back, which lowers the chance of a swarm moving in. Traps are spaced to suit the size of the building and checked on a regular schedule.
- For larger sites – Swarm Trap Monitoring – Apartment communities, golf courses and other large sites may do better with swarm traps. These are bucket-style containers baited with pheromones that look like an ideal nesting cavity to a passing swarm. When bees move in, they are contained in one place where they can be dealt with safely and quickly.
COMMUNICATION – When the work is done, the technician goes over what was found and what was done, either on site or by phone. Expect a few stray bees to fly back to the spot over the next day or two. These foragers were away when the swarm was treated, and they will die off or leave on their own.
Swarms high off the ground may need extra equipment, which can affect the price. Florida Bug Control offers free estimates, so call 1-855-624-2847 to talk through your situation.
Our customers say it best
“Our representative is Craig and he is in good communication when he does his rounds at our company. He will regularly check in with me or other staff if I am not available to inquire if there are any trouble areas that need attention. He goes about completing his job without interruption of our workers. Always dependable and takes an interest.”
