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Swarms
Don't Panic !
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Honey Bee swarms are simply part of the reproductive cycle of the honey bee colony and an important part of putting food on our tables.
Before a colony swarms, the honey bees will have filled up on honey from their stores and will have slimmed the normally rotund queen down so she can fly.
Approximately up to ½ of the colony and the old queen will leave the old colony in search of a new home which would normally be one to three miles from the old one. They will temporarily gather (cluster) at a “muster” point. Before the swarm clusters at the “muster” point, the sky will be filled with a rotating cloud of bees. The cloud may be an inherent defense perimeter around the queen until she lands at a muster point after which time the honey bees will form a protective cluster around the queen.
Because the bees are so full of honey they will be relatively passive and less likely to sting.
They will hang in a cluster at the “muster point” which is usually on a tree branch, while they send out scout bees to look for a new home. However, the swarms have been known to muster (gather) on sides of a building, a parked car, a fire hydrant, a bush or a fence slat or fence post.
Once the "new" home has been found they'll be off again, this time to their permanent location. If no “suitable” home can be found, they will move en-mass to somewhere else and send out the scout bees again.
If they have been searching for a home for several days, and if because of the weather, food stores are depleted, the bee swarm may lose some of its passivity and be more prone to sting so always treat a honey bee swarm with respect.
Before a colony swarms, the honey bees will have filled up on honey from their stores and will have slimmed the normally rotund queen down so she can fly.
Approximately up to ½ of the colony and the old queen will leave the old colony in search of a new home which would normally be one to three miles from the old one. They will temporarily gather (cluster) at a “muster” point. Before the swarm clusters at the “muster” point, the sky will be filled with a rotating cloud of bees. The cloud may be an inherent defense perimeter around the queen until she lands at a muster point after which time the honey bees will form a protective cluster around the queen.
Because the bees are so full of honey they will be relatively passive and less likely to sting.
They will hang in a cluster at the “muster point” which is usually on a tree branch, while they send out scout bees to look for a new home. However, the swarms have been known to muster (gather) on sides of a building, a parked car, a fire hydrant, a bush or a fence slat or fence post.
Once the "new" home has been found they'll be off again, this time to their permanent location. If no “suitable” home can be found, they will move en-mass to somewhere else and send out the scout bees again.
If they have been searching for a home for several days, and if because of the weather, food stores are depleted, the bee swarm may lose some of its passivity and be more prone to sting so always treat a honey bee swarm with respect.
What Should You Do?
Contact a bee swarm collector. A list of the persons who will collect (capture) a honey bee swarm can be found here
In Sangamon County, Illinois you can contact your local University of Illinois Extension Office (217-782-4617) which maintains a list of persons who will come out to retrieve the honey bee swarm. If the swarm occurs over a weekend or a holiday, the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center (217-753-6666) also has a copy of the same list.
Be prepared to provide your name, address/location of the swarm and a phone number you can be contacted at by the person who will be coming to collect the bee swarm. Some of the information they will ask is:
1) Where is the swarm?
2) How high is it?
3) How big is the cluster of bees (the size of a baseball, a football, a soccer ball, a basketball or bigger)?
4) Is there ladder available if one is needed or does the bee swarm collector need to bring a ladder?
5) Do you know approximately how long the swarm has been there?
If you live in another County or State, contact your local Extension Office or your County Sheriff’s Dept.
In Sangamon County, Illinois you can contact your local University of Illinois Extension Office (217-782-4617) which maintains a list of persons who will come out to retrieve the honey bee swarm. If the swarm occurs over a weekend or a holiday, the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center (217-753-6666) also has a copy of the same list.
Be prepared to provide your name, address/location of the swarm and a phone number you can be contacted at by the person who will be coming to collect the bee swarm. Some of the information they will ask is:
1) Where is the swarm?
2) How high is it?
3) How big is the cluster of bees (the size of a baseball, a football, a soccer ball, a basketball or bigger)?
4) Is there ladder available if one is needed or does the bee swarm collector need to bring a ladder?
5) Do you know approximately how long the swarm has been there?
If you live in another County or State, contact your local Extension Office or your County Sheriff’s Dept.