Spring Bee Activity in Ohio: Early Warning Signs of a New Hive

It’s officially spring, and warmer days are on the horizon! But as temperatures begin to rise across Northeast Ohio, so does wild honey bee activity. While seeing a few bees gathering nectar and pollen from early blooms in your yard may seem harmless, this is just the beginning–spring is the start of swarming season. It’s the time when bee colonies split and search for new places to build hives.

Out in natural areas, this isn’t a concern. But for homeowners and businesses, spring is the most important time of year to stay alert. What starts as a small but noticeable increase in bee activity can quickly turn into a full invasion and a hive built right inside your home or other building. Cleveland Bee Removal is here to help, with early warning signs and actionable tips to keep your property safe.

Bee Activity and Swarming in Spring

Honey bees have been hunkering down all winter long, waiting for warming weather just as much as we have been. As days lengthen and temperatures rise, plants begin to bloom and offer plentiful food and resources for wild bees–they’re on the wing, getting what they need to survive. The gradual increase in food signals an increase in egg production and colonies steadily grow. If they get too large, or if the queen knows that she doesn’t have much time left, a colony may divide. This process–called swarming–is totally natural, and it peaks in Ohio in late spring and early summer. 

Just what is a bee swarm? It’s a large group of bees that leaves an existing hive with a queen to establish a new colony. Since they have no immediate place to start building comb and for the queen to lay eggs, scouts are sent out to find a suitable home. 

During swarming season, bees are actively searching for:

• Protected spaces
• Warm, dry environments
• Entry points into structures

Unfortunately for homeowners, our houses often provide the perfect conditions to set up a new colony. 

Early Warning Signs of a New Hive

You might notice increased bee movement in a localised area, like a small opening around a window or door, or utility vent. You may also see a large cluster of bees hanging from a tree branch, fence, or exterior surface. While the former takes a little closer observation, the latter is very easy to see and to hear–the buzz is often audible. Swarms are often a temporary phenomenon that resolve once the scouts find a new location for a home. That is, unless your building is the chosen location. If you see consistent activity around your home’s walls, attic, or soffits, it’s time to call a professional to investigate the situation.

Recognizing the early signs of bee activity can help you to act long before a hive becomes established. This is important because once they start building their new home, you’re dealing with honey and larvae, and possibly other insects and pests–it’s far better to get ahead of the curve.

Additional places where you may see increased bee activity during swarming season include:

• Cracks in siding
• Soffits and eaves
• Chimneys and vents
• Gaps around windows or trim
• Along the roofline

Honey bees can squeeze through gaps as small as 3/16” (~5 mm) though they prefer 3/8" (about 6-9 mm). However, regardless of preference, if they can squeeze through smaller, tight openings, they will make it work if they find an ideal spot to build their colony.

As far as swarming bees go, common places to see them include a dense cluster on:

• Trees
• Shrubs
• Decks
• Exterior walls

These clusters of bees are often temporary occurrences, but if paired with a few individuals coming and going from specific gaps, then it almost surely spells an imminent invasion.

Signs of An Establishing Hive

Once scouts have located an ideal location and the workers and queen have set up shop, they’re going to be gathering and storing pollen, producing honey, and the queen will be laying eggs that will develop into the next generation of bees. 

Key signs that this is underway include: 

Buzzing Sounds Inside Walls or Ceilings

If you hear a faint buzzing behind walls or above ceilings, it could mean bees have already begun building a hive inside your home. A professional bee removal specialist can use infrared technology to locate hotspots behind walls or within ceilings or floors.

Signs of Wax or Honey

If a hive has been established for some time already, you’re likely to notice dark stains on walls or ceilings accompanied by a sweet or unusual odor that’s hard to pinpoint. In advanced cases, you may even see a visible, sticky residue. These are signs that a hive is already established, and that honey bee removal is in order.

Early Detection Matters

Honey bee swarms can include a wide range of total bees, often topping out at several tens of thousands of bees. That’s a lot, to be sure–often roughly half of the previous hive that split. But that’s nothing when it comes to a thriving honey bee colony, which can contain as many as 80,000 bees during the active season!

Once a hive is established, it can grow quickly. That’s why it’s so important to take note of any bee activity and consult with a professional bee removal Cleveland company to ensure that you nip the problem in the bud. 

Otherwise, what starts as just a few thousand bees can quickly build inside the structure of your home, office, garage, shed or outbuildings. Over time, this can lead to:

• Structural damage 
• Increased risk of stings
• Attraction of other pests

A word of warning: the longer a hive remains, the more complex and costly removal becomes. As honey stores are built up, you risk additional pests invading for an easy food source. Professional honey bee removal is a must to ensure that all trace of the former hive is gone. All of this is far more invasive and expensive of a project than swarm removal or prevention.

What to Do If You Notice Bee Activity This Spring

So you’re going to be extra vigilant and keep an eye out for bee activity during these warming months. But what should you do if you actually see a swarm? Here are some vital cautionary points to keep in mind.

If you suspect that honey bees are nesting in or around your home:

• Do not attempt DIY removal
• Avoid sealing entry points
• Keep a safe distance from active areas
• Contact a professional

Though a swarm may be less aggressive than an established colony, since they do not have young and food stores to defend, there is no sense in risking it–keep far away and contact your local honey bee removal Cleveland professional. 

The Importance of Professional Bee Removal

We have attempted to explain the very basics of bee activity in spring as it relates to swarming, but there is far more nuance to it. A trained professional bee keeper or bee removal specialist will best be able to assess the situation and make a judgement call on what should be done. 

First of all, a bee removal expert will be able to properly identify the species of bee that you are dealing with. Oftentimes yellow jackets, wasps and hornets are mistaken for bees. While removal is still a good idea, tactics and tools will differ. Professional bee removal ensures that the colony is safely handled during removal. It also ensures complete removal of the hive and honeycomb, reducing the likelihood of future infestations. In many cases, complete removal requires that walls are opened and hidden areas are accessed–this is something that only professionals should handle. Their experience will give them insights that an everyday homeowner or maintenance worker simply will not have. 

Bee Control for Cleveland Properties

At Cleveland Bee Removal, we specialize in safe, effective bee removal throughout Northeast Ohio. Our years of experience and hard-earned expertise enable us to handle everything from swarms to fully established hives. Our team can locate hidden colonies, remove bees safely and efficiently, and work with you to provide suggestions for preventing future infestations.

We understand how quickly a small issue can become a major problem–that’s why we’re here to help you address it early on, before things get out of hand. We’re familiar with Ohio ecosystems and know what to look for. Our local, Cleveland-based, family-owned and operated business is fully licensed and proud to work with area homeowners and businesses to keep their properties safe, this and every season.

Check out what our clients have to say, and if you suspect a developing bee colony, or are seeing evidence of scouting or a swarm, waste no time–contact us today! Cleveland Bee Removal serves a large area including Northeast Ohio communities such as Medina, Westlake, Rocky River, Avon, Avon Lake, Brunswick, Strongsville, Aurora, and many other communities. Please reach out with any questions.