How to Deal with Swarms

Seeing a swarm for the first time can be quite the alarming experience. A big problem we have seen historically about human perceptions of swarms is that they are dangerous and need to be exterminated. This is absolutely not the case! Swarming is the way bees naturally grow and reproduce.

Why Bees Swarm

The simple answer is that there are too many bees in the hive. When a hive outgrows its capacity, the bees have to split off in order to survive. They will create a new queen when the time comes near for them to swarm. After she is mated, as many as 60% of the workers will leave with the old queen and search for a new home. They will gather close to the old hive and send a few of the most experienced foragers to search for a new home. When one is found, they will perform a waggle dance for the other bees to show them where they've found their new home. The more vigorous the dance, the better the location. This usually occurs in a day or two.

The Impact of Swarming

For a recreational beekeeper, this process is really not that impactful. The old colony will continue to grow and work as it always has. For the commercial beekeeper, it can be quite the setback. Essentially, that hive's production for the year will be lost, as they will not have the workforce to create an excess of honey. They will have enough for themselves, but not for harvesting.

What to Do When You See a Swarm

To reiterate what was already said, swarms are not as dangerous as public perception believes they are. This is the bees' least aggressive stage of life, as they have no brood to protect. That said, they will attack if they feel threatened so it is best to keep your distance. They have no reason to attack you if they are left alone. Whatever you do, DO NOT CALL AN EXTERMINATOR! Contact us and we will send out a beekeeper to retrieve the swarm. It is far better for the bees and their sustainability for us to give the swarm a new home rather than to kill them.