November 5, 2026
Bee swarm in your yard? What Palm Beach County homeowners should do
Short answer: A bee swarm in Palm Beach County is usually a cluster of honey bees resting on a branch, fence or eave while scouts look for a new home, and UF/IFAS says swarms often move on within a few hours to a couple of days. Keep people and pets away, don’t spray it or knock it down, and call us if the cluster stays put, is near a doorway, pool or play area, or bees start going in and out of an opening in your home.
Swarms surprise a lot of homeowners. One afternoon there’s nothing, and the next there’s a buzzing ball of bees hanging from the hedge. Here’s what’s going on and how to handle it.
When is bee swarm season?
UF/IFAS Extension explains that honey bees swarm most in spring, when flowers are blooming and colonies are growing fast, though swarms can show up in other months too. In Palm Beach County’s mild climate, it’s worth watching for swarms any time colonies are active.
Why do bees swarm?
Swarming is how a honey bee colony reproduces. When a colony outgrows its home, the old queen leaves with a large share of the workers. The swarm lands somewhere nearby and clusters while scout bees search for a permanent spot, like a hollow tree, a wall void, a soffit or a meter box. Once they pick one, the cluster leaves.
Swarm vs. established colony
| Swarm | Established colony | |
|---|---|---|
| What it looks like | A ball or beard of bees hanging in the open on a branch, fence, eave or car | Steady traffic of bees in and out of a single opening |
| Where | Outside, out in the open | Inside a wall, soffit, roof, tree, meter box or irrigation box |
| How long it stays | Often a few hours to a couple of days | Stays and builds comb |
| What to do | Keep your distance and watch it. Call if it stays or is in a high-traffic spot | Call us about bee colony treatment. The comb needs to come out too, and we can refer you to a qualified professional for hive removal |
What to do (and not do)
- Do keep children, pets and guests away from the area, and keep doors and windows near the swarm closed.
- Do note where it is and take a photo from a distance. That helps us plan.
- Don’t spray it with a hose, a household insecticide or anything else.
- Don’t throw things at it, knock it down or try to bag it.
- Don’t seal bees inside a wall or opening. Sealing bees in doesn’t remove the colony or its comb.
UF/IFAS describes swarming bees as relatively docile because they have no comb or brood to defend yet, but any honey bee can sting, so give them plenty of room.
What about Africanized bees?
Africanized honey bees are found in Florida. UF/IFAS notes you can’t tell them apart from European honey bees just by looking, because it takes lab analysis. That’s one more reason to treat every swarm and colony with caution and let a professional handle it.
Florida rules for honey bee colonies
In Florida, eradicating a honey bee colony is pest control and must be done by a licensed pest control company. UF/IFAS notes that the property owner is responsible for bees on their property and that the comb from a colony inside a structure should be removed, not just the bees.
Q and L Pest Management provides bee colony treatment for homes and businesses. We’ll look at where the bees are and explain your options. We don’t physically remove hives or comb, but we can refer you to a qualified professional for hive removal.
After the bees are gone
Bees that found one opening can find it again. Once the colony is treated and the comb is out, the opening should be sealed or repaired. We’ll point out the gaps we find around soffits, roof edges, vents and meter boxes so you can get them closed.
How Q and L Pest Management helps
If a swarm hasn’t moved on, a colony has moved into your home, or you’re not sure which one you have, call us. Learn more on our bee removal and bee colony treatment page, and see the bee question in our FAQ. Business owners can reach us through commercial pest control.
We handle bee calls across Palm Beach County, including Lantana, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, Wellington, Royal Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens and Jupiter, plus Broward County.
Frequently asked questions
How long will a bee swarm stay in my yard?
UF/IFAS Extension says a swarm often stays a few hours to a couple of days while scout bees find a new home. If it stays longer or bees start going in and out of an opening, it may be moving in, so give us a call.
Is a bee swarm dangerous?
Swarming honey bees are usually less defensive than bees guarding an established nest, according to UF/IFAS, but any honey bee can sting. Keep people and pets away and don’t disturb the cluster.
Can I spray a bee swarm?
No. Don’t spray, hose or knock down a swarm. It can make the bees defensive and doesn’t solve the problem if they’re moving into your home. Call (561) 725-5274.
Who can treat a bee colony in Florida?
Eradicating a honey bee colony is pest control and must be done by a licensed pest control company. Q and L Pest Management holds FDACS Pest Control Business License #JB333443.
Does Q&L handle bees?
Yes. We treat bee colonies at homes and businesses across Palm Beach County and Broward County. We don’t physically remove hives or comb, but we can refer you to a qualified professional for hive removal. See our bee removal and bee colony treatment page.
Request a complimentary inspection
Book a complimentary inspection and we’ll share what we find, explain your options and recommend a plan for your home.
Request a complimentary inspection: qandlpest.com/contact-us/ · (561) 725-5274
Office hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–4:00 PM.
Inspect first. Treat smart.
About the author
Michael Ringler, Q and L Pest Management. Q and L Pest Management is a family-owned pest control company based in Lantana and serving Palm Beach County.Q and L Pest Management LLC holds FDACS Pest Control Business License #JB333443. Services are performed under FDACS Certified Pest Control Operator John Park, certificate #JF320165.
Sources
- UF/IFAS Extension Clay County. The Buzz on Honey Bee Swarms (June 4, 2021). https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/clayco/2021/06/04/the-buzz-on-honey-bee-swarms/
- UF/IFAS Extension Volusia County. Honey Bees and Swarming: Understanding This Natural Phenomenon (February 26, 2025). https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/volusiaco/2025/02/26/honey-bees-and-swarming-understanding-this-natural-phenomenon/
- UF/IFAS EDIS. Choosing the Right Pest Control Operator for Honey Bee Removal: A Consumer Guide (ENY-144/IN771). https://ask.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN771
- UF/IFAS Honey Bee Research and Extension Laboratory. FAQs. https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/honey-bee/faqs/