The short version
Around Fort Lauderdale, honey bees usually swarm February through April. Swarms are usually calm and often move on. Wall colonies need removal, ideally alive, comb and all. Africanized honey bees live in parts of Florida. Keep your distance from any colony.
- Never seal a hole bees are using.
- Wall colonies need the comb taken out.
- Paint bare wood to deter carpenter bees.
- Ask about live removal first.
Anyone in Fort Lauderdale who has bees around the house and wants to handle it safely.
What to look for
Spraying alone leaves comb and honey behind. A wall colony can reach tens of thousands of bees. Trouble starts when they move into a house. Most bees are helpful pollinators.
- 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.
Treatment options and typical costs
Live Honey Bee Relocation
$150-$500
The bees are collected alive and moved to a hive.
- Time
- 1-3 hours
- Best for
- Swarms and reachable colonies
Structural Hive Removal & Cleanup
$400-$1,500
The wall is opened and the bees and comb removed. Then it's cleaned and sealed.
- Time
- 2-6 hours
- Best for
- Colonies inside walls, soffits or attics
Carpenter Bee Treatment
$200-$700
Holes are treated, then filled. Painting or staining the wood helps keep them away.
- Time
- 1-3 hours
- Best for
- Round holes in bare wood
Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
$200-$800
Sealing gaps, screening vents and follow-up checks.
- Time
- Seasonal plan
- Best for
- Keeping bees from moving back in
Prices are typical published ranges. Ask what’s included before you compare quotes.
A honey bee colony in the attic often announces itself with a hum on warm afternoons. Unscreened vents like this one are a common way in.Which bees show up around Fort Lauderdale.
They're best left alone. Honey bees are behind most calls in Fort Lauderdale: swarms in spring, and colonies that move into walls. They look like ordinary honey bees. Eastern carpenter bees bore round holes in bare wood around Fort Lauderdale, 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.
Local bees conditions in Fort Lauderdale.
A provider who works Fort Lauderdale 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. Fort Lauderdale sits in a tropical climate, and that sets the pace for bee activity here: spring and summer (swarming and colony growth). Across Fort Lauderdale, 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 Fort Lauderdale usually starts outside and works inward, checking the foundation, gaps around doors and windows, and any moisture or clutter near the structure first. Knowing Fort Lauderdale'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.
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.Swarms: what to do.
Scouts are hunting for a new home. It's usually calm and moves on within days. Keep people back. a beekeeper or removal service. A swarm is a colony on the move.
Bees in the wall.
Homes from Fort Lauderdale out to Hollywood and Pompano Beach see the same entry points: soffits, vents and wall gaps. Steady traffic at one gap means a colony inside. 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 Fort Lauderdale, soffits and wall voids are the usual spots.
Carpenter bees.
Painted wood is far less attractive to them. Carpenter bees look like bumble bees with a shiny, bare abdomen. They drill round, half-inch holes in bare wood. Treat the holes, fill them, then paint the wood.
A year of bees in Fort Lauderdale.
- Spring: swarm season, February through April. - Summer: highs near 90°F in Fort Lauderdale. Watch for honey stains on walls. - Fall: bumble bee colonies die off. Seal gaps once bees are gone. - Winter: lows near 59°F in Fort Lauderdale. Honey bees cluster inside.
Bee, wasp or hornet?
- 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. - Yellowjacket: bright yellow and black, nests in the ground.
If you get stung.
911 for trouble breathing or a swollen face or throat. Scrape the stinger out quickly with a fingernail or card. Wash the area and use a cold pack. An antihistamine eases itching.
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.
- 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. - A photo or short video, taken from a safe distance.
Ground bees in the lawn.
Thicker grass and regular watering make the lawn less inviting. Small bees over bare spring lawn are usually mining bees. They're gentle and rarely sting. They leave within a few weeks.
Keeping bees from moving back in.
- 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. - Repaint or restain bare wood every few years.
Where colonies settle.
- 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. - Hollow trees and fence posts: often fine to leave.
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.
Cover sweet drinks outside. Teach kids to stay calm and walk away from bees. Keep pets away from swarms and wall entrances. Dogs stung in the mouth or throat need a vet quickly.
When a swarm shows up.
Keep people and pets back. A beekeeper may collect it. In spring, a swarm may hang from a branch or fence. Swarming bees are usually calm. They have no hive to defend. Most move on within a day or two.
Questions to ask before you sign.
- 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? - How will you seal the entry afterward?
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. Call if bees use a gap in your walls or roof. if a swarm hasn't moved on in a few days.
What you can do yourself
Carpenter bee holes are a fair DIY job. Treat, fill and paint. Swarms and wall colonies are not. A beekeeper or removal specialist can often save the bees.
Bees in Fort Lauderdale
Winter lows near 59°F in Fort Lauderdale barely slow honey bees down. In denser parts of Fort Lauderdale, colonies turn up in walls, soffits, signs and utility boxes. With about 63 inches of rain a year and summer highs near 90°F in Fort Lauderdale, spring bloom is steady and swarms are common.
Local research
Bees in Fort Lauderdale, 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 Fort Lauderdale, 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 Fort Lauderdale
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.
A good bee quote names the bee, says whether live removal is realistic, and lists comb removal, cleanup, sealing and any repairs separately.Did you know?
Male carpenter bees can’t sting. They just hover and bluff.
A swarm is a colony splitting in two. The old queen leaves with about half the workers.
Questions people ask
How much does bee removal cost in Fort Lauderdale?
A swarm pickup is often $75–$250. Wall colonies cost several hundred dollars or more, plus repairs.
Can honey bees be moved instead of killed?
Often, yes. Swarms and many wall colonies can be removed alive.
A swarm landed in my yard. What should I do?
Swarms are usually calm and move on within days. A local beekeeper may collect it.
Should I seal the hole where bees are going in?
They may get into the house. Remove the colony and comb first. No. Sealing traps the colony inside.
What happens if comb is left in the wall?
It can melt in summer heat and stain walls. It also draws ants, beetles and moths.
Are carpenter bees dangerous?
Males can't sting, and females rarely do. They do bore into bare wood, so paint or stain it. Not really.
When do bees swarm in Fort Lauderdale?
Usually February through April. A warm, sunny spell after bloom often sets it off.
Do bees come back after removal?
They can, if comb stays or the gap isn't sealed. The scent of old comb draws new swarms.
Are there Africanized bees around Fort Lauderdale?
Treat every colony with care.
How much does it cost to remove a swarm of bees?
Across Fort Lauderdale, one hundred twenty-five to $200 is HomeAdvisor's 2026 benchmark for removing a bee swarm, a temporary cluster rather than an established hive, and local prices vary. A good pro in Fort Lauderdale will explain how their plan fits what they found at your home.
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Sources (10)
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