Florida is on the cusp of bee season, which means that many residents will be forced to deal with these buzzing bugs for at least a few months.
According to the University of Florida, the season typically kicks off in spring — usually around March — which is when flowers begin to bloom
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As a result, bees can start making honey and increasing the size of their colonies, causing them to outgrow their nests.
When this happens, a colony’s queen and about half of the worker bees will leave the nest to set up a new location around a mile away, depending on the access to potential food and safe nesting sites.
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These honey bee swarms will often land on fences, tree branches or the sides of buildings to begin setting up their new nest, UF researchers explain.
After finding a secure spot, bees can then begin constructing their nests, usually in cavities like tree holes, house walls, attics, and storage sheds.
However, this can be a problem when they decide to set up somewhere that already has people nearby.
If you notice there is an unusually high amount of “bee traffic” near your home, it could be an indicator that bees are setting up a colony there.
In such cases, the Florida Department of Agriculture suggests one of two options: either contact a beekeeper to remove the colony or call a pest control service to eradicate them.
Feral swarms and colonies can be safely removed alive by registered beekeepers, who typically charge a fee for removal. Pest control companies could be a better option if the colony is close to places where people or animals frequent.
Either way, state law leaves it up to the property owner to decide whom to call.
UF researchers explain that mid-summer is around the time that bee colonies start to settle down in many areas of the state, as the number of blooming plants dies down around this time.
However, the more tropical areas of Florida can see blooming plants year-round.
The University of Florida has some tips to help property owners avoid a bee infestation. They are as follows:
- Scout your property for potential nest sites: Honey bees prefer dry, enclosed places. Any spot with an entrance at least the size of a dime can be infiltrated by honey bees. Some of these spots can include hollow, concrete block walls, utility boxes and underground meter boxes.
- Seal any holes found on your property: Once you find a cavity that could potentially be used by honey bees, use latex sealant or a special pest-blocking foam. Larger openings can be covered with a metal screening, and a top damper can be installed on chimneys.
- Monitor equipment stored outdoors: Bees can set up camp inside of barbeque grills, boats, playground equipment, under trailers, and inside of campers that aren’t used often. Remove or cover items like tires, upside-down pots or boards leaning up against walls. Cover the entrances to bird nesting boxes when it’s not nesting season.
The FDACS has a list of both registered beekeepers and eradicators, which can be found by clicking here.
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