Bee Swarms: Why They Happen and What to Do

Every spring, Pest Control Berkshire receives calls about honeybee swarms on private property. We are happy to respond to those calls on behalf of our customers. However, we do want our readers to understand that honeybee swarms are largely harmless if people just leave the insects alone. They will leave on their own in due time.

Honeybees are most likely to swarm between mid-May and mid-June. They do so not because they are looking to attack, but simply because they are looking for a new place to build a nest. We explain how the swarming mechanism works.

Expanding the Colony

Every spring, the survivors of an existing colony make it their mission to expand. An active colony can reach upwards of 50,000 bees at its peak. In the spring, however, an old queen is not strong enough for her pheromone to reach all the members of the colony. Those who do not sense the pheromone establish a new queen. Unfortunately, both queens cannot exist in the same colony.

The old queen and those bees sensitive to her pheromone will leave the nest in search of a new home. They will gorge on honey in order to sustain them during the search. By the time the queen and her followers are ready to leave, they are already feeling fairly docile. A swarm occurs when the group needs to stop and rest.

Swarming is a natural way to expand colonies so that these do not become so big as to endanger themselves. Indeed, some beekeepers instigate artificial swarms by removing an old queen and putting her in a new nest. They can do this because swarming is a natural behaviour built into honeybees to protect their numbers.

What You Should Do, Call Pest Control Berkshire

If honeybees ever swarm on your property, the best thing you can do is call Pest Control Berkshire. We can dispatch a technician to come out and keep an eye on things. Having said that, our technician is not likely to do anything unless the bees present a safety issue.

As long as honeybee swarms are not provoked, they are not dangerous. The swarm will eventually leave after getting the rest it needs to continue. Should a swarm decide to make its new home on your property, our technician can safely remove and relocate the nest.

The one thing you do not want to do in the event of a swarm is panic. Getting upset and allowing your fear and imagination to run wild is good for neither you nor the bees. So remain calm, call Pest Control Berkshire, and let us handle the matter for you.

Pest Control Berkshire is a locally owned and operated pest control firm with years of experience. We can help with all sorts of household pests including bees and wasps, hornets, rodents, fleas, cockroaches, and more. All our technicians are fully trained and certified in compliance with regulations.

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