When the bees swarm…. no cause for alarm

by Tim Baker, Northwest Region Horticulture Specialist

Extension offices receive a lot of calls this time of year from people that are concerned about honeybees. Perhaps the bees have established a colony in a building or other structure, and the caller would like them removed. Or maybe the caller has seen a swarm, and is wondering what to do.

Some Extension offices have contacts with local beekeepers, who can sometimes help. Whether the beekeeper can assist or not depends on the situation. There may be some reluctance on the beekeeper’s part if the bees are in a structure. Swarms, however, are a relatively quick catch, and an easy way for the beekeeper to increase his number of colonies.

First, let’s consider bees in a structure. In this case, the bees have established a hive, or colony. Deep within the walls of your building, you will find a complete beehive, with a queen, workers, brood, and guard bees at the entrance, protecting the colony. These bees pose a greater danger, since they are protecting their home. They could become aggressive, and you could get stung if the bees think you pose a danger to them.

While the beekeeper doesn’t worry about stings, since he is protected in his bee suit, it can be quite a major undertaking to tear into a building or other structure. That is why beekeepers are usually reluctant to become involved in these situations. If you can’t find a beekeeper willing to take a project like this on, you’ll probably need to call an exterminator.

Remember, however, that this is a colony. That means that there is also honey in the colony. While you may kill the bees, the honey remains. This may attract new bees to the area. So after the bees are gone, you may still need to deal with the situation, to prevent reoccurrence.

Swarms are an entirely different matter. Bees swarm when a colony becomes too large or overcrowded. The bees produce a new queen, and the old queen takes off with up to half the colony. The new queen and the remainder of the bees stay with the old colony.

The swarming bees move away and light on a branch or other object. It’s pretty impressive, to see a big ball of bees. Once the scouting bees find a suitable location to set up a new home, the swarm will move on.

When the bees leave the old colony, they engorge themselves with honey for the trip. These bees are usually not aggressive. I’m not saying they won’t sting, they can. It’s just that they are full of honey and looking for a new home, and thus less likely to sting.

Since the swarm is relatively docile, it’s best to leave them alone. Don’t try to attempt to encourage them to move on, since they may become aggressive. If you leave a swarm alone, it will usually move on within 24 hours or so.

If you would like them out of the area, call your local beekeeper. Most beekeepers are usually looking for swarms. They will bring an empty hive, and put the swarm in it. If they successfully capture the queen, the bees will remain in the hive.

Capturing a swarm is a fascinating process. If you would like to see photos of this procedure, take a look at my web site: http://extension.missouri.edu/nwregion/hort/bees/bees.shtml

Please note that what I have discussed refers to honeybees. Other types of bees and wasps will be more aggressive, and if dealing with them is beyond your capabilities, be sure to call a qualified professional.