🐝 “Buzz Off!” The Truth About Bees
By Westfall’s Lawn & Pest Control
Let’s face it. Florida’s buzzing with beauty… and bugs. Especially bees. And if you live in Sarasota or Manatee County, chances are you’ve had a few uninvited guests trying to turn your BBQ into a BuzzBQ.
But before you grab a tennis racket and declare war, let’s break down the bee situation and how Westfall’s can help keep your yard sweet, safe, and sting-free.
🧠 First, Not All Bees Are Your Enemy
Contrary to what Hollywood says, bees aren't flying needles of doom. In fact, some bees are our allies. Florida is home to:
Honeybees Yes, those honeybees. Hard-working pollinators, essential for flowers, fruit, and Instagram-worthy citrus trees.
Bumblebees Fuzzy, lazy-looking, and kind of adorable. They do their job and usually mind their business.
Carpenter bees These are the homewreckers. Big, loud, and more interested in drilling holes in your patio than making honey.
So, not all bees are bad but not all bees are welcome either. Especially if they’re swarming near your kids’ playset like it’s a runway at Bee-LAX.
🏡 “Why Is My Yard a Bee Hotspot?”
Sarasota and Manatee counties are bee heaven:
Warm climate ✅
Year-round flowers ✅
Fruit trees galore ✅
Untouched soffits, siding, and fence posts ✅✅✅
Translation: your home might be the Ritz-Carlton of hives. Especially during spring and summer when bees are scouting new homes. Lucky you!
🐝 The Buzz on Bee Problems
Here’s when you should call Westfall’s:
You see a swarm on a fence, tree, or porch (nope, that’s not a “bee party” it’s a queen and her entourage looking to move in).
Carpenter bees are drilling holes into your deck like tiny, winged carpenters with zero building permits.
You hear buzzing inside walls or soffits (if your house starts humming like a Tesla, it’s not the power company).
You’re worried about kids, pets, or allergic reactions. (Even docile bees can sting when provoked. And let’s be real — toddlers always provoke.)
👷 What Not to Do (Seriously, Don’t)
❌ Spray wasp killer on a beehive at 2AM wearing goggles and flip-flops.
❌ Try to “smoke them out” using that citronella candle from 2007.
❌ Challenge the hive with a broom and a dream.
❌ Assume they’ll “just leave eventually.” Spoiler: they won’t.
✅ What to Do Instead
Call in the pros. At Westfall’s, we:
Identify the bee species
Safely and humanely remove or redirect when possible
Apply long-term prevention methods (aka “Bee-gone tech”)
Keep your home safe, your lawn buzzing with life, not bees
We’ll even do it with a smile. And no flip-flops.
💡 Fun Fact: Bees Actually Prefer Mansions
OK, not literal mansions. But large, shaded spaces with limited traffic? Absolutely. That’s why soffits, fence posts, and rarely used sheds are such prime real estate.
Think of your yard as Zillow and bees are checking out the listing.
🐝 Bottom Line: Let the Pros Do the Buzz Work
Bees belong in nature, not in your attic, under your grill, or inside your mailbox (yep, we’ve seen it). If Sarasota or Manatee’s bee brigade has made your home their hive, Westfall’s is here to help — safely, professionally, and with fewer stings than a middle school talent show.
📞 Call Westfall’s Lawn & Pest Control
Serving Bradenton, Sarasota, and surrounding areas since 2001.
Same-day service. Bee-safe solutions. Buzz-free backyards.
Let’s make your lawn less "bee-ware"... and more "bee-autiful." 🐝