When it comes to bees swarming, there are many questions. In this blog, we hope to bring insight into the swarming process to educate folks about the bees, our VIPs (Very Important Pollinators). Here we answer some of the most frequently asked questions about bees, and most importantly, people should call a beekeeper or a reputable humane live bee removal company when faced with a bee concern. If you ever have a bee question, contact a local beekeeper because they are an excellent resource of knowledge and local bee biology for your area.
Beekeepers understand how scary the buzzing sound of a bee swarm can be for most people, and when these swarms are collecting on a tree branch, fence, or other spot on your property, it causes alarm. Most people feel fear because bees can sting, and they will defend themselves. When you encounter a bee swarm, it can be unnerving, but here we hope to dispel some of the fear and focus on the incredible coordination of behavior-swarming exhibits as nature takes its course.
Why Do Bees Swarm and What Exactly Is It?
Honeybee swarms are a natural and expected behavior of bee colonies when they need to multiply and form new colonies. When honey colonies outgrow their hive, it gets too crowded, and one queen cannot effectively take care of all the bees with her pheromone supply, and that is when the worker bees get ready for flight. Worker bees do just that – work to build cells for the new queen. Once the cells are complete, the queen lays eggs, and the entire colony changes its behavior pattern.
Worker bees become erratic inside the hive, and foraging slows down. Once the queen stops laying eggs, she drops some weight, so if her flight is long, she can safely make it. Once the queen is ready to leave, she is accompanied by more than half the worker bees in the hive, and that is why it looks like a cloud is passing over when bees swarm. When the queen gets to a stopping place, which is often on a tree branch (but can be in stranger places, like jet wings and utility boxes), she begins to give off her pheromones which cause the worker bees to gather closely around her. Clusters of bees swarming can remain for hours and sometimes days. If you are concerned about a bee swarm that seems to be lingering, contact your local beekeeper, and they can help. Once the cluster around the queen is in place, scout bees head out to find a new home. Once the new home is determined, the swarming bees will again fly to their new location, where they begin to rebuild.
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When Is Swarming Normal?
Swarming, in its nature, is normal. However, most people want to know when to expect it so they can identify swarms when they happen and not be concerned. Swarming typically happens in the spring and summer because of the nectar and pollen and plentiful. Anticipate swarms between March and May, but in seasons like this year, where winter lasted longer in many states, swarming started late. The risk of later swarms is that bees looking to build a new home will need more resources to relocate successfully.
Should I Be Afraid of Bees Swarming?
Although bees continue to have the ability to sting, when they are not protecting a hive, they are much less defensive. When bees watch and protect the little bees or honey, they can be defensive and more dangerous. However, working and scouting bees are much more concerned with finding a new home during swarming, so typically, there is little danger with swarming bees. If bee swarms can be left alone, that is ideal because they will move on soon. However, if you have an event and a swarm that may put people at risk, contact a live bee removal company to safely and humanely move the bees.
How Do I Handle A Swarm of Bees that Must Go?
Sometimes bee swarms end up in spots like parks or a schoolyard, and even though bees are not aggressive during swarming, the risk for children and people may be too high to leave it be. Sometimes, schools may change the area where kids can play, but it is never a good idea to spray a swarm with pesticides or try to destroy it – this is dangerous for you and can kill the swarm.
The best bee removal companies are dedicated to protecting our VIPs, removing them from unwanted spaces, and finding them a new home. The bee population decline concerns many beekeepers, our food production, and the environment, so it is always best to work with a company that guarantees the safety of people and the bees.
If you need a local beekeeper, D-Tek Bee Removal Services is the highest-rated complete bee removal company. Contact us today for a free inspection – our service and value can't be beaten, and we can usually have a qualified bee technician to your property within 24 hours. Call us today at 760-224-3040 – we are standing by!