USU Extension’s Utah Plant Pest Diagnostic Laboratory received many reports of honey bee swarms this spring from anxious homeowners. A honey bee swarm can be an impressive and intimidating sight, as a huge cloud of bees, sometimes as large as the size of a suburban backyard, flies from a crowded bee colony to a new location. A better understanding of swarming behavior should alleviate concerns when encountering a swarm. Consider this information.

 

In the spring, a honey bee colony will rapidly build its resources and produce many broods. Often this leads to cramped conditions by late spring or early summer. In response, the colony will split into two and the new colony will relocate, a process known as swarming.

 

The process begins with the rearing of a new queen, who will stay with the existing colony. Simultaneously, scouts begin looking for a suitable location for a new hive. Hollow trees are a favorite, but any large cavity is a potential new home. About 30 to 70 percent of the worker bee population will engorge themselves with honey before leaving so that they will have plenty to eat as they search for and establish a new home. At this time, the old queen and the engorged worker bees leave to start the new hive. Soon after departing, the old queen will land on an object as a temporary staging area. The worker bees will orient to the queen’s pheromones and surround her. The result is a huge ball of bees that can sometimes be located in a backyard tree. The scouts that had previously located potential new nesting sites try to “convince” the hive to move to their chosen site. After a few hours, a decision is reached and the swarm departs.

 

Witnessing the bees’ arrival or finding a swarm may cause unnecessary panic. Swarming bees are actually much more docile than bees in a hive. Their main concern is keeping the queen safe and warm and relocating the hive. The worker honey bees are still engorged and have a difficult time stinging. Some people have walked up to a swarm and held their hand within an inch of the bees with no consequence. They have no brood or honey to protect in this situation and are, therefore, calmer.

 

Homeowners concerned about a swarm may contact the Utah Beekeepers Association (www.utahbeekeepers.com), which maintains a list of beekeepers who are interested in collecting swarms. This is a benefit  to both homeowners and beekeepers.