Africanized Bees in Miami
Africanized honey bees (AHB) are established throughout Miami-Dade County and are visually identical to European honey bees — only laboratory testing can confirm the difference. Their defensive behavior is significantly more aggressive: they respond in larger numbers, pursue threats over greater distances (up to a quarter mile from the hive), and take longer to calm after a disturbance. AHB are responsible for serious stinging incidents in South Florida every year.
Any honey bee colony found nesting inside a wall void, soffit, meter box, irrigation valve box, or tree hollow in Miami should be treated with caution until assessed by a professional. Do not spray with water, insecticide, or any liquid before a professional evaluation — disturbance of an Africanized colony can trigger a mass defensive response.
Miami Species We Handle
The most common wasp in Miami. Open umbrella-shaped nests under eaves, in carports, on window frames, and in landscaping. Treated with insecticide at night, then nest removed. Moderately aggressive when nest is threatened.
Ground-nesting or wall-nesting wasps that are highly aggressive when disturbed. Ground nests treated with insecticide injected directly into the nest entrance. Wall void nests require drilling and void injection. Do not attempt removal without protective equipment.
Colonies in wall voids require either extermination (with subsequent comb removal to prevent honey fermentation and secondary pests) or live removal and relocation by a beekeeper. We assess and recommend the appropriate approach based on colony location, size, and access.
Solitary, non-aggressive wasps that build mud tube nests on exterior walls and under eaves. Rarely require treatment — occasional and non-threatening. Nests can be physically removed without chemical treatment.