What To Expect About Swarming This Spring

If you are in colder climates, you may still be experiencing winter weather. However, be encouraged! Springtime is coming up fast; soon, the sunshine will be out, and the weather will get warmer. Spring brings so much beauty and is a favorite time of year for gardeners and beekeepers. In the springtime, gardens pop with color, and pollinators, like bees and butterflies, make regular appearances. Embracing nature is a sure way to get your spirits up this spring. However, if you have ever experienced a swarm of bees on the move or a surprising cluster of tens of thousands of bees somewhere on your property, it may cause more alarm than feelings of endearment. It is easier to embrace the process if you know what to expect as spring rolls around, as it relates to bees and other pollinator activity. Spring brings beauty, and the natural pollination process begins. Swarming is something we can all expect this spring because it is completely normal and a good sign that bees in your region are thriving. Bees swarm when they need more space and find a new home. Swarming is temporary, and most swarms move on within a few hours.

How Long Will Bees Stay In One Spot?

In some cases, swarms may hang around a day or two, which is when people get uneasy about where it may be located. Remember that if this describes you this spring or summer, contact a local beekeeper or live bee removal company to come out and do a free inspection. Swarms are looking for a home, so having a beekeeper come out and do a bee-proof on your home and property is a good idea - homeowners do not want the hassle of a beehive inside your walls or attic! Swarms may hang on a fence, tree branch, play structure, or airplane wing. There have been several instances where a bee swarm will end up on the wing of an airplane, forcing airlines to delay flights.

Spring is when beehives reach capacity; that is why springtime is when people should expect to witness swarms year after year. Swarms in motion can be impressive as they darken the sky in groups of tens of thousands as they fly over. If you are familiar with bee swarms, you can help others stay calm during a swarm or if they find a cluster of bees hanging in a peculiar spot that wasn't there yesterday. Understanding how swarms typically behave and what to expect can take some of the guessing out of your springtime surprise.

Are There Risks With Bee Swarms?

Bee swarms are not aggressive, so they should be left alone whenever possible. Although it may be tempting for someone to shoo away a swarm, the agitation may cause them to sting. Otherwise, they are not aggressive because bees sting to protect their hive and queen, and they are simply in transit during swarming. Continual provocation may upset them and cause them to react, but this would be unexpected.

The Reason Behind Swarming

At the core, bees that swarm are trying to ensure the survival of their species. Like all living things, one of the five traits is reproduction, and once enough bees are in the existing hive, they need to move on to be able to make more baby bees! The busy scout bees search for a new hive location. Once a new home location is determined, the waggle dance begins to notify other bees of where to go.

Do Bees Swarm in Summer?

With climate change and increasing temperatures, bee swarming will occur throughout spring and summer, possibly swarming into early fall in some warmer climates. Springs' consistently warm days allow bees to come out to forage on readily available pollen and nectar. As the weather gets hotter, placing a water source in the flight path of existing beehives on your property is a good idea. Bees require water and do not swim. That is why you may find them in the pool, and if you do, help them out and give them a lift to dry ground. A shallow pan with a few twigs is enough, but you can always do something that adds to your garden's aesthetic with a bird bath.