Plant Protection - Bee and Wasp Swarm Control
Honey bee colonies may have 50,000 or more bees that pollinate crops, produce honey and care for the young. Each colony has only one queen that is responsible for laying all of the eggs in the hive. Sometimes new queens are produced and the old queen and a few thousand of the workers will leave the colony to find a new home. This activity is called “swarming” and usually occurs in the Spring.
Each year, the Department receives numerous calls from consumers asking for referrals to control or removal of bee swarms and nuisance colonies. For many years, the Georgia Department of Agriculture has provided the names of local beekeepers for honey bee swarm control or removal. However, the Georgia Honey Bee Advisory Committee has overwhelmingly recommended that the Department discontinue this practice due to bee diseases and/or pests (tracheal mites, varroa mites, American foulbrood, etc.) that these “wild” swarms may have and transmit to managed bee colonies (commercial or hobby hives).
Although the honey bee was declared the Official State Insect in 1975 by the Georgia General Assembly, it is not illegal to control honey bees. In fact, Georgia Department of Agriculture employees must occasionally require the destruction of commercial bee hives in order to prevent the spread of pests within a bee yard.
These pest control companies have contacted the Georgia Department of Agriculture and have requested that we include their name and contact information on the “Honey Bee Control List”. This list is not intended as an endorsement or recommendation of any particular company by the Georgia Department of Agriculture.
For a list of Bee/Wasp Removal Pest Control Companies, click the link listed below.
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Honey Bee Control List (14KB)
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