Honeybees are a vital part of Florida agriculture and our ecosystem. Bees produce honey that people enjoy, and they also perform necessary functions for almost all plant life. Bee pollination is essential to the human food supply of virtually all vegetables and fruits. However, when they swarm to form new colonies, they often wind up in areas that place them in conflict with people. Swarms are common all over the Fort Myers and Lee County area, and when they are set up close to residences or commercial buildings, they can create hazardous conditions for people. 

Professional Bee Removal is Necessary 

When bees swarm, they seek appropriate habitats for building a new colony, and they may decide to move on from your property soon after they first arrive. If you have a swarm that has shown up on your property in the last couple of days, they may not build their colony on your property. However, if a swarm starts building up a comb, they set up a permanent home. Once construction of a new colony has started, their work typically moves along very quickly. Once they have begun colony construction, they become more defensive of their new home and more dangerous to humans and pets. 

Bees are tough to remove by someone without training and expertise and can be very dangerous if they feel threatened. Professional removal is also necessary to ensure that all colony elements have been effectively removed. Any remaining material can contain powerful chemical scents that are highly attractive to other swarms in the area looking for a place to build.

Bee Relocation or Extermination?

Bee relocation is not appropriate in all cases. If you have African Honeybees, otherwise known as killer bees, on your property, they are not candidates for relocation and should be destroyed. They are considered pests by the Florida Department of Agriculture, and the state requires the extermination of this species. Relocation efforts for them have traditionally proven to fail, and in any event, the species is far too aggressive to be effectively captured and relocated. For other species of honeybees, we can consult with you regarding relocation and bring in properly licensed beekeepers to assist in taking over the swarm or colony for use in a proper agricultural setting. 

Professional Bee Treatments 

Walter Salazar Pest Control will inspect your property and advise you of the available removal and relocation or extermination and future control options. Contact us today for a free evaluation and quote for your home or business and outdoor property.