What to Do if You Spot a Swarm of Bees?
We are in the midst of the most active bee season here in San Diego. With summer in full swing, you’ve likely started to see these buzzing insects fluttering about the city, looking to collect nectar to bring back to their colonies. It’s fairly common to be fearful of bees, but most of the time, they are not looking to bother you. Sure, they may poke and prod to see if you’re a juicy floral variety that may be of use to them, but once they determine that you’re nothing but a human, they’ll usually fly away.
Unless, of course, they feel threatened. That’s when things may get a little more interesting.
One of the most important things to understand about bees is that they are very defensive insects, meaning that they will likely only attack when they feel threatened. Their behavior can depend on your reaction. During this time of year we are even more susceptible to swarms of bees, so here are a few things to know about swarms and what to do if you have a swarm nearby or on your property.
First thing’s first, never try to remove a swarm or hive yourself. Call professional live bee removal technicians to handle the difficult and dangerous job for you. Not only do they have the expertise, they have the equipment to do the job properly and with the well-being of bees in mind.
What to know about swarms
Swarming is an entirely natural process in the life of bees, and it occurs when a large group of honeybees leaves their colony together to establish a new colony. Most of the time, this happens because of a space issue. The colony has grown and now the hive houses too many bees – there simply isn’t enough real estate left to accommodate the group.
A group of bees break off to find another place to colonize and form a new hive. The single colony becoming two represents reproduction at the colony level, which is key to bee life and their overall survival. It’s their way of propagating the species!
These swarms can contain several hundred to several thousand worker bees, hovering around in an interim location. This temporary home may be a tree branch, for example, where the bees cluster together as their scouts venture out to find the perfect new home with ultimate curb appeal. They might stay clustered from an hour to a couple of days before they move on. Then, they make their way to their new, permanent home.
When swarms are on the move and headed to their new location, they’re less likely to attack since they are away from their nest. With no stores of honey to defend, they tend to be their most docile. That is, unless they are provoked. Again, bees are highly defensive creatures. Their main concern at this point is finding their new home. As long as you don’t threaten or bother them, you’ll stay in the clear.
What to do if a swarm is around your property
Although swarms of bees might look like the stuff of nightmares — with dense clumps of insects forming shapes larger than a basketball — they are actually less ominous than they appear. If you spot a swarm outside of your home or around your property, the best strategy is to leave them be, they will likely leave the area within a few days as they move on to their permanent home. Sometimes, however, the concern is that the bees might find a permanent homestead in or around your home. Check the outside of your home for gaps in the structure or roof. If you see bees actively flying in and out of a hole or area, be sure to contact the experts at D-Tek Live Bee Removal in San Diego to help take care of the situation.
What not to do around bees
If you see bees swarming around your property, or if you find a beehive around your home, it may be tempting to try to remove the hive yourself. To put it simply, don’t. Again, bees are defensive creatures, and they will attack when they feel that their hive is being disturbed. If you spot an active beehive, do not make sudden movements, swat the bees or disturb the hive or any surrounding bees. Instead, back away slowly and call an expert to remove the bees safely and humanely.
If a hive is disturbed you may risk a different kind of swarm, where bees are on the attack. In this case, the bees feel that their hive has been threatened, and they are prepared to defend their nest. If you’ve been stung by one bee near the nest, flee the area immediately, as you’ve effectively been marked by the bee. The others in the hive will come to the aid, ready to attack. If you become the victim of a bee swarm, seek shelter in an enclosed area immediately, whether in your car or house.
While bee swarms are docile most of the time, we understand that they can be alarming. If you spot one around your property, give us a call for live bee removal in the San Diego area. Our team is ready to help keep your family and property safe from bees, all while keeping the bees safe and happy too!