The short version
A swarm pickup in St. Petersburg is often $75–$250. Wall colonies cost several hundred dollars or more, plus repairs. Carpenter bee work is usually $100–$500.
- A swarm pickup in St. Petersburg is often $75–$250.
- Wall colonies cost several hundred dollars or more.
- Ask whether repairs are included.
- Live removal costs more but saves the bees.
Anyone in St. Petersburg who has bees around the house and wants to handle it safely.
What to look for
Most bees are helpful pollinators. Trouble starts when they move into a house. A wall colony can reach tens of thousands of bees. Around St. Petersburg, honey bees usually swarm February through April. Spraying alone leaves comb and honey behind.
- 1Bees streaming in and out of one gap.
- 2A buzzing sound inside a wall.
- 3Dark, sticky stains on a ceiling or wall.
- 4A swarm hanging from a branch or fence.
- 5Round, clean holes in eaves or deck boards.
- 6Sawdust under holes in bare wood.
Why it’s worth acting soon
- Wall colonies grow larger every season.
- Comb can melt and leak honey into walls.
- Old comb attracts ants, beetles and moths.
- Carpenter bee tunnels get longer each year.
- Africanized colonies defend their nest aggressively.
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Estimate bee removal cost in St. Petersburg
Adjust for your situation to see a ballpark range.
Estimated range
A rough guide only. Wall colonies and repairs cost more.
Treatment options and typical costs
Inspection and Species Identification
$75–$200
A visit to identify the bee and find the colony.
- Time
- 45–90 minutes
- Best for
- Every job
Live Swarm Capture and Relocation
$75–$250; beekeepers may charge less
The bees are collected alive and moved to a hive.
- Time
- 1–3 hours
- Best for
- Swarms and reachable colonies
Structural Hive Removal with Comb Extraction
$300–$1,500 or more
The wall is opened and the bees and comb removed. Then it's cleaned and sealed.
- Time
- Half a day to a full day
- Best for
- Colonies inside walls, soffits or attics
Carpenter Bee Gallery Treatment and Wood Repair
$100–$500
Holes are treated, then filled. Painting or staining the wood helps keep them away.
- Time
- 1–3 hours plus sealing
- Best for
- Round holes in bare wood
Prices are typical published ranges. Ask what’s included before you compare quotes.
Honey bees rarely settle in a basement, but a window well or a gap around a pipe can be the start of a route into the walls above.What bee removal costs in St. Petersburg.
- Carpenter Bee Gallery Treatment and Wood Repair: $100–$500 - A typical home in St. Petersburg is worth around $375k, and honey leaking into a wall can cost far more than removal. Swarm season around St. Petersburg runs February through April, and spring is the busiest time to book. - Inspection and Species Identification: $75–$200 - Live Swarm Capture and Relocation: $75–$250; beekeepers may charge less - Structural Hive Removal with Comb Extraction: $300–$1,500 or more
Local bees conditions in St. Petersburg.
Petersburg sits in a humid subtropical climate, and that sets the pace for bee activity here: spring and summer (swarming and colony growth). Across St. Petersburg, the area is mostly urban, so bees pressure can differ from one block to the next depending on how tight the entry points are and how much food, water, or shelter is close by. An inspection in St. Petersburg usually starts outside and works inward, checking the foundation, gaps around doors and windows, and any moisture or clutter near the structure first. Knowing St. Petersburg's seasonal timing lets you schedule treatment before the busy stretch rather than after it, which usually means faster service and a more accurate quote. A provider who works St. Petersburg and Florida every day can point out the specific conditions that matter most here, and getting the scope, price, and follow-up terms in writing makes it easier to compare options. St.
Fall is the easiest time to seal gaps along the foundation and siding, once bee traffic has slowed and before next spring's scouts start looking.Which bees show up around St. Petersburg.
Petersburg: swarms in spring, and colonies that move into walls. Africanized honey bees live in parts of Florida. Keep your distance from any colony. They look like ordinary honey bees. Eastern carpenter bees bore round holes in bare wood around St. Petersburg, especially eaves, fascia and decks. Bumble bees nest in the ground or old insulation. Their colonies die off each fall. Small ground-nesting bees in spring lawns are harmless. They're best left alone. Honey bees are behind most calls in St.
Swarms: what to do.
A swarm is a colony on the move. Scouts are hunting for a new home. It's usually calm and moves on within days. Keep people back. a beekeeper or removal service. Around St.
Bees in the wall.
Don't seal the hole, and don't just spray it. Trapped bees may come into the house. The fix is a cut-out. Bees and comb come out, then the wall is closed. On slab homes around St. Petersburg, soffits and wall voids are the usual spots. Homes from St. Petersburg out to Clearwater and Tampa see the same entry points: soffits, vents and wall gaps. Steady traffic at one gap means a colony inside.
Carpenter bees.
They drill round, half-inch holes in bare wood. Treat the holes, fill them, then paint the wood. Painted wood is far less attractive to them. Carpenter bees look like bumble bees with a shiny, bare abdomen.
A year of bees in St. Petersburg.
- Winter: lows near 53°F in St. Petersburg. Honey bees cluster inside. - Spring: swarm season, February through April. - Summer: highs near 91°F in St. Petersburg. Watch for honey stains on walls. - Fall: bumble bee colonies die off. Seal gaps once bees are gone.
Bee, wasp or hornet?
- Yellowjacket: bright yellow and black, nests in the ground. - Honey bee: fuzzy, golden brown, about half an inch. - Bumble bee: big, fuzzy, black and yellow. - Carpenter bee: like a bumble bee, with a shiny bare abdomen. - Wasp: smooth, narrow waist, long legs.
If you get stung.
Wash the area and use a cold pack. An antihistamine eases itching. 911 for trouble breathing or a swollen face or throat. Scrape the stinger out quickly with a fingernail or card.
Live removal: what it involves.
They open the wall and gently vacuum the bees. Then they cut out the comb. The bees go to a managed hive. Then the space is cleaned, sealed and closed. A specialist finds the colony, often with a thermal camera.
What to tell the removal company.
- A photo or short video, taken from a safe distance. - Where the bees go in and out. - How high up the spot is. - How long you’ve noticed them. - Any stains, sounds or smells inside. - Whether anyone at home is allergic.
Ground bees in the lawn.
They're gentle and rarely sting. They leave within a few weeks. Thicker grass and regular watering make the lawn less inviting. Small bees over bare spring lawn are usually mining bees.
Keeping bees from moving back in.
- Repaint or restain bare wood every few years. - Remove all old comb. Its scent draws new swarms. - Seal the entry gap once the bees are gone. - Screen attic, gable and crawl vents. - Cap open pipes, posts and fence rails.
Where colonies settle.
- Hollow trees and fence posts: often fine to leave. - Chimneys: a cap with screen keeps swarms out. - Attics: gable and soffit vents are common entries. - Sheds and garages: gaps under eaves and doors. - Meter and irrigation boxes: small, dark and dry. - Grill covers and unused equipment: check in spring.
Can I just spray them?
Still, spraying a wall colony usually backfires. Dead bees and comb stay inside, rot, and leak honey. Pesticide labels also limit spraying around bees. Live removal is usually the better choice. Honey bees aren't federally protected.
Kids, pets and bees.
Keep pets away from swarms and wall entrances. Dogs stung in the mouth or throat need a vet quickly. Cover sweet drinks outside. Teach kids to stay calm and walk away from bees.
When a swarm shows up.
Swarming bees are usually calm. They have no hive to defend. Most move on within a day or two. Keep people and pets back. A beekeeper may collect it. In spring, a swarm may hang from a branch or fence.
Questions to ask before you sign.
- How will you seal the entry afterward? - What kind of bee is it? - Will you remove the bees alive? - Will you take out all the comb and honey? - Who repairs the wall or soffit?
Ways to keep the cost down.
- Compare what each quote covers. - Call early, before a colony settles in a wall. - Ask a local beekeeper about swarms. - Paint bare wood to prevent carpenter bees.
What affects the price
- Swarm pickup versus a colony inside a wall.
- How high the bees are, and whether a lift is needed.
- Opening and repairing walls, soffits or ceilings.
- Comb and honey cleanup.
- Number of carpenter bee holes.
- Whether bees can be removed alive.
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What’s your biggest bee concern?
When to call for help
right away if anyone in the house is allergic. if a swarm hasn't moved on in a few days. Call if bees use a gap in your walls or roof.
What you can do yourself
Swarms and wall colonies are not. A beekeeper or removal specialist can often save the bees. Never seal a hole bees are using. Carpenter bee holes are a fair DIY job. Treat, fill and paint.
Bees in St. Petersburg
With about 50 inches of rain a year and summer highs near 91°F in St. Petersburg, spring bloom is steady and swarms are common. Winter lows near 53°F in St. Petersburg barely slow honey bees down. In denser parts of St. Petersburg, colonies turn up in walls, soffits, signs and utility boxes.
Local research
Bees in St. Petersburg, FL: what the public record shows
Before you compare quotes, it helps to know which bees actually live in Florida, when they are busiest around St. Petersburg, and what the state figures look like. Everything below links to the agency or university page it came from.
Honey bee colonies, January 1, 2026 (operations with five or more colonies)
Managed hives are the source of the spring swarms that end up in homes and trees; the state table is on page 7 of the report.
USDA National Agricultural Statistics ServiceAfrican honey bee swarming
Compared with European colonies that 'commonly swarm one to three times per year', so infestations of walls and meter boxes recur.
UF/IFAS ExtensionBee species recorded in Florida
- Western honey bee (European honey bee) (Apis mellifera) — Managed colonies are surveyed by USDA NASS in the listed states; swarms leave hives in spring and move into wall voids, chimneys, and trees. If a colony is killed and not remove…
- Africanized honey bee (Apis mellifera scutellata hybrids) — Visually indistinguishable from European honey bees; far more defensive and swarm more often. 'They entered Texas in 1990, Arizona and New Mexico in 1993, and California in 1994…
- Eastern carpenter bee (Xylocopa virginica) — Large black-and-yellow bee with a shiny bare abdomen that bores round, about 1/2-inch tunnels into unpainted softwood trim, decks, fascia and railings. 'There is only one specie…
- Southern carpenter bee (Xylocopa micans) — 'In southern Georgia, their range overlaps with the southern carpenter bee, Xylocopa micans' (UGA IPM). Similar wood-boring habit to the eastern carpenter bee.
When bees are busiest around St. Petersburg
Warm-climate honey bees swarm from late winter through early summer and can swarm repeatedly; carpenter bees are active from late winter. The Florida subspecies Xylocopa virginica krombeini occurs from Sumter and Lake Counties south.
Florida splits the trade: 'Beekeepers hired to conduct live removal of honey bees are required to be registered with the Florida Department of Agriculture' under Rule 5E-14.151, while 'Only a licensed pest control company can provide the service of eradication' under Chapter 482, Florida Statutes. 'Genetic testing is required to determine if honey bees are African or European.' FDACS says not to attempt removal yourself and to bee-proof after removal.
Rules that apply in Florida
For context, nationally
- 788 deaths (an average of 72 deaths per year) — Sting deaths, hornets/wasps/bees, 2011–2021. CDC MMWR
- 84% — Share of sting deaths among males, 2011–2021. CDC MMWR
Sources: Honey Bee Colonies (August 2026); African Honey Bee, Africanized Honey Bee, Killer Bee (EENY-429 / IN790); CDC MMWR; Carpenter Bees; Eastern carpenter bee. Figures are quoted as the source prints them. How we check our sources
Simple ways to keep bees away
- Seal gaps in soffits, vents and siding before spring.
- Screen attic and crawl vents.
- Paint or stain bare wood to deter carpenter bees.
- Fill old carpenter bee holes after treatment.
- Remove old comb so new swarms aren’t drawn in.
- Keep empty bee boxes and hives closed up.
After a removal, the old entrance gets screened and sealed. The smell of comb draws new scouts, so this step is what keeps bees from moving back in.Did you know?
Most native North American bees live alone, nesting in the ground.
Honey bees beat their wings about 200 times a second.
Questions people ask
Will homeowners insurance pay for bee removal?
Usually not. Insurers treat it as maintenance. Leaking honey damage may differ. Ask your insurer.
What is the typical cost to remove bees from a wall?
Usually several hundred dollars, sometimes more than $1,500 for big colonies. Repairs to the wall may be extra.
What should a bee removal quote include?
Bee type, colony location, live removal, comb cleanup and repairs.
Why does live relocation cost more than spraying?
It takes longer. Across St. Petersburg, bees, comb and honey all come out, and the wall gets opened. Spraying leaves comb behind, which causes problems.
What happens if comb is left inside the wall?
Comb left behind is the reason many homeowners end up paying twice. The first bill kills or seals the bees. The second bill opens the St. Petersburg wall to remove melted honey, ruined insulation, moth webbing, and a fresh colony that smelled the old one. Insist that the quote include full comb removal and cavity cleanup.
What about bumble bees in the ground or in insulation?
Bumble bee colonies are small and end every fall, so the simplest plan in St. Petersburg is to mark the nest and avoid it until then. If the nest is beside a door or in crawl space insulation where people work, a pro can move it or treat it. They rarely sting unless the nest is disturbed.
How much does bee removal cost?
Typical published ranges for St. Petersburg run about $75 to $250 for a swarm capture, $100 to $500 for carpenter bee treatment and sealing, and $300 to $1,500 or more for removing an established hive from a wall or roof. These are not quotes. Access, colony size and repairs move the number.
Nearby cities
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Sources (9)
The facts in this article come from the public sources listed above. Every home is different, so ask the company you talk to about pricing and what’s included. Published by Beehive Removal · Updated September 11, 2026 · How we write these guides