It's Swarm Season!

 If you’ve visited our observation bee hive recently, you may have noticed how it has been bustling with bees. The queen has been very busy laying eggs this spring. In fact, today, the hive decided to swarm!

Our observation hive swarming in an oak tree behind the center!

This means they were doing so well that they decided it was best for half of them to leave the hive and move to another area to populate it. Their original queen accompanied this swarm. The bees, as industrious as they are, have already begun the process of raising another queen that will abide in the original hive.

A swarm flying through the air

The sight of honeybees swarming, or congregating together in a huge mass, can be a frightening thing to witness without the understanding of what is really going on. In preparation for this exodus, the bees have gorged themselves with honey, not knowing how long it will take to find another piece of prime real estate. This makes them even more docile than they usually are. The swarm typically alights nearby the original hive and will stay there while the scout bees search out a new home. This may take a few hours, or it could take days for them to accomplish this. When they are all in agreement on a permanent site, the swarm will take off to relocate.

Rock Hounds campers watching the bees leave the observation hive

For the most part, a swarm is not cause for concern if the bees are just hanging up in a tree. They are not aggressive and will not attack anyone, as many think. Sometimes, they will decide to gather on other structures that may not be so convenient, such as a car, a deck, or in public place. 

Not a great place for a picnic!

 If that be the case, call a local beekeeper! In fact, call a beekeeper no matter where the bees are. Most would be more than happy to come out and retrieve the bees so that they can stock one of their hives. It is also good for the bees, since they are guaranteed a safe home. A list of beekeepers that catch such swarms can be found by clicking here.

To clarify:

If you see something like this – call a beekeeper, it is a honeybee swarm!

If you see something like this – don’t call a beekeeper, it is a bald-faced hornet’s nest!