Swarm of Bees in Your Yard? What to Do in Colorado
A big cluster of bees hanging from a branch, a fence, or a patio umbrella is alarming to look at. In most cases it is a honey bee swarm, and it is usually less dangerous than it looks. Here is what is going on and what to do about it.
What is a bee swarm?
A swarm is how a honey bee colony reproduces. When a hive gets crowded, the old queen leaves with roughly half of the worker bees to start a new colony. They land together in a cluster, often on a tree branch, shrub, fence, or any object off the ground, while scout bees search for a permanent home. The cluster can look like a ball, a beard, or a hanging cone.
Are swarming bees dangerous?
Swarms are generally calm. The bees have no brood and no honey stores to defend, and they have just filled up on honey for the trip. That does not make them harmless. Disturb them, spray them, or throw something at them, and they can defend themselves. Treat the swarm with respect and give it room.
What to do right now
- Stay back. Keep a good distance and keep children and pets away from the area.
- Take a photo from a safe distance. A clear picture helps a beekeeper confirm what you have before anyone drives out.
- Note the details. Where the cluster is, how high off the ground, how large it is, and roughly when it showed up.
- Call a beekeeper quickly. Swarms often do not stay long, so speed matters.
What not to do
- Do not spray the bees with insecticide, water, or anything else.
- Do not throw things at the swarm or try to knock it down.
- Do not try to cover or seal anything the bees are near.
- Do not leave food or sweet drinks out near the swarm.
If anyone is stung and has trouble breathing, swelling of the face or throat, or a known allergy, call 911.
Honey bees or wasps?
The right help depends on what you have. Honey bees are fuzzy and golden brown, and they may carry yellow pollen on their back legs. Wasps and yellowjackets look smooth and shiny with bold yellow and black bands. A swarm that hangs in a visible cluster is almost always honey bees. If you are not sure, describe what you see through my contact page and I will ask for a photo. I only handle honey bees, but I can tell you what you are looking at.
A swarm or an established colony?
This matters because they are very different jobs. A swarm hangs in the open and is temporary. If instead you see bees going in and out of a hole or gap in a wall, roof, soffit, or tree, a colony has already moved in. That is a structural job, and the same warning applies: do not seal the opening, because that can trap the bees inside.
How long does a swarm stay?
Anywhere from a few hours to a few days. Many swarms move on by themselves once the scouts agree on a new home. The trouble is that the new home may be a wall or an attic on your property or your neighbor's. Removing the swarm while it is still hanging in the open is far easier than removing a colony from inside a building.
When is swarm season in Colorado?
Swarms show up in spring and early summer. In Colorado, May and June are typically the busiest months, though a warm spell can bring them earlier.
Need a swarm removed?
I remove honey bees in the Denver metro area and, whenever possible, relocate them to a managed apiary instead of destroying them. Tell me where you are and what you see through the contact page. You can also read more about my bee removal service. Pricing is available on request.
Curious about keeping bees yourself? Read what my first year of beekeeping taught me, or look into mentorship.