What to Do If You See a Swarm of Bees Near Your Home

Honey bees start swarming in spring, as colonies grow and new queens are born. And while early to late spring is the typical time of year to expect swarming, it can happen later in the summer too, especially if a hive is severely overcrowded or dealing with a failing queen. Seeing hundreds or even thousands of bees clustered together can be startling, and you might begin to worry about stings or infestation. Truthfully though, more often than not, a bee swarm is a natural and temporary part of a honey bee colony's life cycle.

That said, no one wants that many bees right next to or on their home. Honey bee swarms can look intimidating, for sure, but understanding what they are and how to respond can help keep both your family and the bees safe. Here’s what to know and what to do if you find a honey bee swarm on your property this season. 

What Is A Honey Bee Swarm?

A honey bee swarm is a large grouping of honey bees that are looking for a new home. They are a natural part of a honey bee colony’s life and reproduction cycles and happen for several reasons, such as when a colony becomes too large or a new queen is born and the colony must split. 

Swarms can vary widely in size, and can contain anywhere from hundreds to tens of thousands of bees. The workers huddle around the queen to protect her and so form a dense cluster of moving bees. It can be difficult to know just how many bees are in a swarm, so researchers have developed a way to estimate the number based on size comparison with common objects.

Bees often pack together at certain densities, so various measurements can be used to then compare the size and approximate how many bees can fit in that space. For example, common sports balls are used for reference:

• Tennis Ball: 150 to 190 bees (usually secondary swarms with a virgin queen)
• Rugby Ball: about 6,000 bees
• Basketball: 9,000 to 9,500 bees
• Beach Ball: upwards of 30,000 to 37,000 bees

If a swarm of bees doesn’t easily fit into one of these sizes, then the number can fall somewhere between those listed here. As you can see, this isn’t generally a precise science–you just know that there are a lot of bees hanging out around your home! 

Common place to find honey bee swarms include:

• Tree branches
• Bushes
• Fence posts
• Deck railings
• Sides of homes
• Mailboxes

Look for a large cluster of bees all hanging together and lots of loud buzzing activity. If you see a paper nest, such as those built by wasps or hornets, that is not a honey bee swarm. Remember that swarming bees are on the hunt for a home, they aren’t necessarily permanently setting up shop where they’ve landed. Scout bees will investigate potential nesting sites in the area, and things will go from there. That’s why it’s so important to bee proof your home to prevent bees from nesting, because you never know when a swarm will drop by. If scouts find easy ways into your home or other structures, they could deem it a good place to live and before you know it, you’re calling for honey bee removal in Cleveland.

What You Should Do If You See a Honey Bee Swarm

In general, swarming bees are more worried about supporting their queen and finding a new nesting site than anything else. They don’t have honey stores and brood to defend, so they typically aren’t as aggressive as when they are living in an established hive. That said, they can and will sting if provoked. So if you have anyone in your home who is allergic to bee stings, then a honey bee swarm is a serious matter calling for professional removal.

Stay calm, keep your distance, monitor the location and avoid sudden movements or any physical impacts that could prompt the bees to attack. Keep people and pets clear of the area, contact a professional provider of bee control in Cleveland to address the situation further. Beyond leaving the area alone, there are also some key things not to do, such as:

• Spraying insecticides
• Throwing objects at or near the swarm
• Attempting DIY bee removal
• Sealing entry points to structures

Wait for the professional team to arrive and they will instruct you. This keeps you, your pets and family, and the bees safe. It’s also much easier for bee removal specialists to tackle the swarm if the bees are calm. They can also ensure that the bees have not already started moving into your home or structure and give you pointers on how to seal your home against future infestations. 

Choose Professional Honey Bee Removal In Cleveland

Even the most passionate outdoorsperson should rely on professional bee removal specialists when they have a honey bee swarm on their property. These experts can reliably identify species and assess the size and state of the swarm prior to taking action. They can also then safely remove and potentially relocate honey bees, preserving these valuable pollinating insects. Working with a professional team that provides honey bee removal to Cleveland property owners also means that you will receive preventive recommendations on how to prevent bees from nesting in and around your home. 

It is possible that a swarm will simply move on without any intervention. However, if it remains on your property for more than a day or two, it’s time to call the bee removal specialists at Cleveland Bee Removal. If you’re already seeing bees entering your home’s structure or if the swarm is located near doors, walkways, or play areas, and especially if someone in the household has a severe bee allergy, don’t delay–contact us today!