Hiring Local Bee Removal Services for Your Home

RAYMOND MILLS – BEEKEEPER BS SCIENCE ED (Biology)

This past winter season (2018) marks our 56th year of honeybee culture. Over the past few years, thousands of bee colonies have been moved from trees, buildings, containers, and many other places. Because we’ve spent so much time with bees and their keepers, we have a deep understanding of how honeybees help us and the environment.

Florida’s hardy maples offer an early breakfast of rich pollen and nectar when the cool wind of January meets the fiery sunrise. February 2018 went on record as one fo the mildest in history. Bees relished the abundance of fragrant Florida willows and oak pollen. As a result, bee colony strength showed great improvement from the previous year. March presented with windy days of cooler temperatures. However, there were periods of warmth which contributed to nectar and pollen production.

Winter is the season that is best suited for relocating commercial beehives. Beekeepers move thousands of hives to citrus groves, blueberry fields, and various other crops. Citizens calls for bee removal services are usually down during this time frame. Because there are so many honeybees, swarms of wild bees are likely to appear in large numbers in the summer and fall. When feral swarms appear, Florida Bee Removal is prepared to respond quickly for safe relocation/removal.

Honeybee removal and relocation is a professional craft; learned by years of hands-on experience. The ideal practitioner knows how to spot structural holes, tell the difference between bees and wasps, use bee control methods correctly, and has great people skills.

Florida Bee Removal (Apian Services) has over 50 years of honeybee management experience. Our owner began moving bee swarms when he was 17 years old, in 1962. You can read about the history of bee removal on our website. Our technicians receive on-going instruction on best practices for bee and wasp control. Wasps are usually exposed but bees generally prefer voids in trees, structures, and containers. In many situations, honeybees can be safely relocated to farms. Eradication is permitted when unwanted races of bees are encountered. Live bee removal is allowed and preferred by Florida Bee Removal.

Apian Services is available 24/7. Our office staff is courteous and knowledgable on bee and other stinging insect issues. Feel free to call us for a consultation or bee removal service anytime. We are a family business that wants to hire people who want to make bee removal and relocation their life’s work.

We are in the process of training our youngest grandson, Luca. We are working fervently to have Luca prepared to handle your bee issues by 2036. In the meanwhile, call our current team of bee professionals for all of your bee removal issues.

Bee & Stinging Insect Removal

The cities surrounding Tampa Bay have a large population of bees, yellowjackets, and wasps. These stinging insects are valuable to our ecosysytem. Problems exists when they invade human habitations and their property. Each bee and wasp project calls for a custom evaluation and remedy. However, removal and relocation is the most desirable method of control.

Polistes (wasps) construct paper nests, most often along the eaves of buildings and in shrubbery. However one particular species, polistes annularis, prefers the shade of tree branches overhanging Florida rivers and streams. Our bee experts went down the Rainbow River in the summer of 2002 to look for these wasps. Soon after launching from K. P. Hole, hundreds of wasp nests were sighted. As bee and wasp killers, we were thinking about taking some of these samples to use in anti-venom therapy. Since we had not bought our removal and relocation equipment, harvesting was delayed for a future adventure. It appears likely, that a river traveler would encounter stings from these wasps.

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE-CERTIFIED PEST CONTROL OPERATORE-MAIL [email protected]Bee Removal Deland, FL

*For public safety reasons, the state of Florida says that any bee colonies that aren’t managed by beekeepers and are nesting close to places where people or pets go should be destroyed by a licensed and insured pest control operator or taken down by a registered beekeeper. Not enough people stress how important it is to only let a licensed and insured professional bee removal company do the job. If someone tries to do it themselves, they could kill someone or seriously hurt themselves. In addition to bee removal and relocation, we perform yellow jacket removal. Yellow jackets are very defensive. Did you know the yellow jacket stinger is about twice as long as a honey bee stinger?*.

*Honeybees are not native to the USA. They are European in origin, and were brought to North America by the early settlers.

**According to Florida law, only certified pest control operators can use pesticides on honey bees to get rid of them. If you need to get rid of bees, call a PCO.

**Honeybees are not mean by nature, and they won’t sting unless they are protecting their hive from an intruder or are provoked too much.

*Honeybees represent a highly organized society, with various bees having very specific roles during their lifetime: e. g. , nurses, guards, grocers, housekeepers, construction workers, royal attendants, undertakers, foragers, etc.

*The queen bee can live for several years. Worker bees live for 6 weeks during the busy summer, and for 4-9 months during the winter months.

*In Florida , “managed bee hives” are cultured by bee keepers. They are required to be registered, inspected by DACS, and to consist of gentle stock. Harming or theft of managed bee hives could be a 3rd degree felony. It is possible for an authorized group to get rid of a wild bee hive that doesn’t have a beekeeper.

*Unlike bees, yellow jackets do not store surpluses of honey, produce wax, nor secrete royal jelly. Instead, they feed their brood with meat products masticated from other insects or other animals. The yellow jacket species is very aggressive, and like getting rid of bees, you shouldn’t try to get rid of yellow jackets on your own. Call a professional.

*You need to get rid of bees because they can damage your home or business for thousands of dollars. After the bee removal, a comb filled with larvae, pollen and honey still remain. If the bees don’t keep the comb at the right temperature, the wax covering could melt, letting the honey leak out and ruining things like drywall, wall covering, carpet, and more.

Yellow jackets are much more dangerous than bees, which is why they are often mistaken for them. Most reports of “bee stings” may actually be yellow jacket stings. Yellow Jackets are easily startled, and unlike bees, they will attack in large groups, chasing what they see as a threat for long distances. The easiest and safest option for bee removal and yellow jacket removal is to hire Florida Bee Removal. If you’re determined to do it yourself, know that the likelihood of getting stung is high. Honey bees have larger barbs on their stingers, but yellow jackets have lance-shaped stingers with small barbs that can sting more than once.

*Honey bees will often form waxen nests attached to tree limbs and structures (referred to as “exposed colonies”). A bee colony the size of a basketball was found hanging from a tree branch in Bradenton, Florida, not long ago (see the story and photos here with Tiffany Tompkins at the Bradenton Herald). This bee relocation was accomplished using a cardboard box and a laundry bag. When the bee box got to the apiary (bee yard), it was shook into a wooden box with frames that held wax foundation. In a few days, the bee colony should have stored a lot of honey and be better prepared for managed bee manipulations.

*A male honey bee is known as a drone. His job is to chase down a queen bee and inseminate her. The egg-bearing queen can then lay either fertile or sterile brood. A drone bee results from a non-fertile egg. Therefore, a drone bee has grandparents and a mother but no father.

*If you see a large cluster of bees with no apparent bee hive, don’t spray them with insecticide. Chances are these bees are gentle, as they have no babies or home to defend. Let Florida Bee Removal perform a live bee removal for you at a very low price. Now is your chance to get rid of the bees without killing them, before they build a hive on your property that they will defend until the end!

*Just because you have bees on your property does not necessarily mean that the bees must be removed. When you call Florida Bee Removal, we might ask you a few questions and tell you that you don’t need a bee removal visit. Why? Because some bee swarms will simply move on and leave you and your family alone.

*It is not necessary to disturb the hive itself to initiate an Africanized Bee attack. In fact, Africanized bees have been known to attack for no reason, even small things like noises or vibrations from cars, equipment, and people walking by. Keep your children and pets away from the bee hive or swarm if its on your property.

*Africanized bees are less picky about where to build their nests than native bees. They use a wide range of natural and man-made items, such as hollow trees, walls, porches, sheds, attics, utility boxes, garbage cans, and abandoned cars. They also tend to swarm more often than other honey bees.

*If you bother an Africanized bee colony, it will be angry for 24 hours and can attack people or animals up to a quarter mile away from the hive. Although their venom is no more potent, Africanized bees attack in far greater numbers than native honeybees.

*In Florida, the number of registered beekeepers has grown significantly. This is likely because of a state law passed in 2012 that took away the power of local governments to decide if bees could be kept in residential areas. This will eventually mean more calls for bee removal services. As beekeeping grows in cities, so will bee swarms, which are a natural way for honeybee colonies to have more babies.

*Africanized bees often enter European colonies to mingle and mate with them. Such mating results in more hybrid bees having African genes and tendencies dominating over European ones. An entire colony may suddenly take on aggressive and short-tempered behavior thus prompting your call for bee removal.

*A bee swarm looks like a group of bees because all the workers are gathered around the queen queen, making a group. They are focused on finding a new nest, not on attacking.

*Honeybee swarm season in Florida typically goes from April through August. When the bees swarm, half of the bee colony splits off and is looking for a new home. This is typically when you notice the bees and call Florida Bee Removal for help!.

*Wild bee swarms are a sign that other bee hives are nearby, both those that are kept by beekeepers and those that have set up in trees and other empty spaces. There are several steps that the swarms go through: scout bees look for a good place to live, the swarm lands there, and then the colony moves in.

When you kill bees in a building without taking down the hive itself, bees will come back because the honey and pheremones left behind attract other bees. Call Florida Bee Removal to make sure the job is done right!.

*The ancient Egyptians used honey as food and medicine. It was also used in offerings and for embalming the dead. Beeswax was used in magic rites, for preserving and also in medicine.

*If you spray the bees and then just fix the hole they made, there will be thousands of dead bees inside your wall. The honey will attract insects for years to come with potentially devastating damage to your home’s interior structure. Call Florida Bee Removal for a proper job.

*Africanized bees behavior is thought to be aggressive by many, however the africanized bee behavior is actually defensive. They react to invasion of their environment and defend themselves when necessary. Attacks occur when people are too close to a nesting colony of africanized honey bees. They do not sit around and plot attacks on humans. Let Florida Bee Removal take care of your bee issue before they colonize on your property.

*In Florida, the number of registered beekeepers has grown significantly. This is likely because of a state law passed in 2012 that took away the power of local governments to decide if bees could be kept in residential areas. This will eventually mean more calls for bee removal services. As beekeeping grows in cities, so will bee swarms, which are a natural way for honeybee colonies to have more babies.

*Honey actually has medical benefits? Absolutely! Click here to read more.

*When a honey bee stings, it leaves the stinger as well as the pheromone in its victims skin. Typically, honey bees only sting when they feel the bee hive is threatened.

*Did you know there are more than 300 types of honey in the U. S. ? The flavor of the honey differs based on the nectar source visited by the bee.

It’s not worse than other bee stings, but the African honeybee is much more aggressive and will send out a lot more of them when it sees a threat. Did you know that the africanized honeybee is not as good for business as other honeybees? This is because it makes less honey and often leaves the hive to look for a threat. None the less, Florida Bee Removal attempts to perform live bee removal whenever possible.

* Many people ask why bee removal companies use smoke while removing bees. Smoke will cause bees to become less defensive. Bees instinctively eat honey when they smell smoke around them in case they have to leave because of the fire. Just like people do after a big meal, bees become less aggressive, which makes getting rid of them much easier. This is especially effective during a live bee removal and relocation.

Relocation of Wild Honey Bees

The State of Florida has decided that the safest way to control honey bees is to get rid of all wild bees. But there isn’t a law or rule that says feral bee colonies (those that don’t have a beekeeper) have to be killed right away. If getting rid of bees is necessary, only licensed pest control professionals are authorized to use the right chemicals on an infestation. The best way to get rid of unwanted bee hives is to hire a company that knows how to figure out if a bee problem needs to be removed or moved. The group should be licensed to get rid of general household pests and have experience with apiculture (honey bee keeping).

When a bee colony is moved, both the bees and the combs are taken from an unwelcome or dangerous area to a safer area that is more desirable. One must bee safe in this procedure—being careful not to endanger people, pets, and property. Relocation requires more time to accomplish than eradication and therefore, demands a higher fee. About three-quarters of bee colonies that are moved quickly swarm away from where they were originally hived. These absconders could swarm to an undesirable location—complicating matters.

Bee pests and pathogens (germs) are a constant threat to our Apian friends. In some areas of Florida, Honey bee losses continue to escalate. Rogue use of pesticides, exotic pests, and poor bee keeping management threatens to further reduce bee colony numbers. Less pollinators can result in less food for man. Without sufficient crop reproduction, we could be forced onto an unsavory diet of carrots and potatoes. Food prices would go out of sight. It is therefore important to save bee colonies whenever possible.

This Bee Removal was Full of Drama

FAQ

How much does bee swarm removal cost?

What is the quickest way to get rid of bees?

What is the best company to get rid of bees?

Why is bee removal so expensive?

Who is the best bee removal company?

Because of the importance of protecting bees as pollinators, the American Beekeeper Federation is our top choice for best bee removal service. For a pest removal company that also offers humane bee removal services, Ehrlich Pest Control is our runner-up.

Where is a bee removal service located?

The bee removal service is located at 1705 Pico Boulevard, Suite 56, Santa Monica, CA 90405. Their contact information is 310-560-8113 and [email protected]. For more information, visit their website at www.thebeeremovers.com.

How much does a bee removal cost?

If bees are within a structure, such as in a wall, the cost can go up and will also need to include repairs, so the price can start at $1,000. Some local beekeepers may remove bees for free or at a very low cost, but customers may have some difficulty finding a reliable local beekeeper who is able to perform the service.

Who is bee removal?

Bee Removal—Get Rid of Your Bees! We are a company based in South Africa that specialises in bee removals. We specialise in removing bees from urban and suburban areas to relocate the bees onto farms. Because bees can be a danger to people, it is best to let professionals with the right equipment to remove bees from your home.

What is Bee Safe Bee Removal?

Bee Safe Bee Removal is a team of beekeepers that provide free bee removal estimates in Tucson, Arizona. They can be reached at 833-233-7233. Bee Safe Bee Removal prevents and removes wasps, yellow jackets, and other flying stinging insects.

Do you need a bee removal specialist?

However, if you see a large number of bees and have concerns about the safety of family members or pets, or if you’ve noticed a hive that’s established itself a little too close to your door, it may be time to consider a bee removal specialist to relocate the bees.