Swarm lists by state
Florida
Florida handles most resident honey-bee issues through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), including beekeeper registration, apiary inspection, and a statewide bee-removal list. UF/IFAS publishes Florida-specific guidance on swarms and Africanized honey bees, which matter in Florida because Africanized bees are established in the state.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- Swarm or bee removal list
- Official page →
- State beekeepers association
- Florida State Beekeepers Association
- Typical swarm season
- March to May
- Africanized honey bees
- established
Official resources in Florida
State page for residents dealing with a swarm or established colony, with the official removal/eradication list and consumer guidance.
Official state apiary inspection program page, including inspector information and program overview.
Official registration page for Florida beekeepers, explaining inspection, renewal, hive marking, and movement requirements.
Official statewide beekeepers association site with membership, local association links, and Florida beekeeping support.
Florida-focused UF/IFAS public guidance on Africanized honey bees, safety, and related resources.
Key facts for Florida
- Florida requires every beekeeper with honey bee colonies to register with FDACS. Source: https://www.fdacs.gov/BeekeeperRegistration
- After a registration request is submitted, an FDACS inspector completes an inspection to finish registration. Source: https://www.fdacs.gov/BeekeeperRegistration
- FDACS maintains an official Honey Bee Removal or Eradication List of registered beekeepers and certified pest control operators. Source: https://www.fdacs.gov/BeeRemoval
- FDACS says genetic testing is required to determine whether honey bees are African or European. Source: https://www.fdacs.gov/BeeRemoval
- UF/IFAS says Africanized honey bees are established in Florida. Source: https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/natural-resources/africanized-honey-bees/
- UF/IFAS says spring is Florida's honey bee swarming season; its management calendar flags swarm control in March, April, and May. Sources: https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/design/gardening-with-wildlife/nesting-bees/ ; https://ask.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN848
What to do next
- If bees are hanging temporarily in a cluster, start with the FDACS removal list and ask for the beekeeper registration number or pest-control license number.
- If you keep bees in Florida, register with FDACS first and contact your local apiary inspector to complete inspection requirements.
- Treat any unknown colony cautiously; FDACS and UF/IFAS both note you cannot identify Africanized bees by sight alone.
Helpful guides
- What to do when you see a honey bee swarm
- A swarm vs. an established hive: why it matters
- Honey bees, wasps or yellowjackets? How to tell
- Bee cutout and hive removal cost