It’s Swarm Season for Honeybees! What should you know? What should you do? Who should you call? Here are the key information and resources!

WHAT is a swarm of honeybees?

A swarm of honeybees is about half the bees from a hive who “leave home” with their queen and are looking for another place to live. More than likely, they stopped on that branch in the tree you saw as a resting spot on their way to a permanent new home.

IS a swarm of honeybees dangerous?

The short answer is NO. Without a home/hive to defend the honeybees are particularly docile and have no reason to sting or attack. It is a rather scary sight, but particularly safe. Its easy and very safe for a beekeeper to gather them up and start a new colony.

What can you do if you see a swarm?

Contact your local beekeeper? A social media search should provide you with local beekeepers in your area.

WHY did they swarm?

Swarming is the process by which honey bee colonies reproduce to form new colonies. When a honey bee colony outgrows its home, becomes too congested, or too populated for the queen’s pheromones to control the entire workforce, then the workers signal that it is time to swarm.

WHEN do honeybees swarm?

Typically in spring.