The Greener Guide to Recognizing and Reacting to a Bee Swarm

Bees are incredible pollinators that play a critical role in our ecosystem. What happens when you suddenly see a large, swirling cloud of bees in your yard or around your home? It’s easy to panic, but bee swarms are a natural phenomenon that are amazing to see and, typically, nothing to fear.

Let’s explore how to recognize when you’re witnessing a bee swarm, explain why it happens, and guide you on responding without harming yourself or the bees.

A bee swarm occurs when a colony grows too large and needs to split. Essentially, the queen bee leaves her hive with about half of the worker bees to find a new home. This group of bees clusters together and temporarily rests in places like tree branches, fences, or walls while scout bees search for a suitable location for their new hive. You may hear the humming buzz of the swarm before you see it.

The swarm is usually a large, visible cluster of bees, and although the sight can be alarming, it’s important to remember that swarming bees are generally non-aggressive. Since they’ve left their hive behind, they are more focused on relocating than protecting their territory. Bees in a swarm are unlikely to sting unless they feel severely threatened.

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Swarming is a natural part of a bee colony's life cycle. When a hive becomes too crowded, the colony decides to split, ensuring the survival and expansion of their population. When this happens, the old queen leaves with her followers, and a new queen takes over the existing hive. It’s nature’s way of helping bees create new homes while maintaining healthy numbers for pollination.

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• Clustered Bees: A bee swarm typically looks like a large, moving cloud that eventually forms a tight cluster on a surface, such as a tree branch or fence post. This cluster can range from the size of a grapefruit to a basketball.
• Temporary Behavior: Bee swarms don’t stay in one place for long. Once the scout bees find a new home, the entire swarm will move again. This can take a few hours to a couple of days.
• Non-Aggressive: Unlike when bees are guarding their hive, bees in a swarm are usually calm and non-aggressive. They’re focused on finding a new place to live and have no brood or food to defend.

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If you come across a bee swarm, there’s no need to panic. Here are a few steps you can take:

1. Stay Calm: Swarming bees are not looking to attack. Keep your distance, and do not disturb them. Avoid waving your arms or making sudden movements around the swarm.
2. Refrain from Calling Pest Control:  Honey Bees are an essential part of the pollination ecosystem in Wisconsin.  Pest control companies are only equipped to kill the insects – not safely rehome them.  If concerned – see the links below for beekeepers who can help remove a swarm.
3. Leave Them Be: In many cases, the swarm will move on within a day or two once they find a new home. There’s a good chance they’ll relocate without any intervention.
4. Contact a Beekeeper: If the swarm is in an inconvenient location or poses a threat (like near a playground or high-traffic area), many beekeepers will gladly come to collect the swarm. In Wisconsin, there are local beekeeping groups that will safely remove and relocate the bees, ensuring they are not harmed. Beekeepers are well-equipped to handle bee swarms and relocate them to a safe environment where they can thrive.

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While honey bees are usually non-aggressive when swarming, it’s essential to differentiate between honey bees and other stinging insects like wasps, hornets, and yellow jackets. Honey bees are vegetarians, primarily interested in nectar and pollen, while many other stinging insects are omnivores that can sting multiple times and be more aggressive when disturbed.

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If you have concerns about bee swarms regularly occurring on your property, here are some tips:

• Pick Up Fallen Fruit: If you have fruit trees, fallen fruit can attract bees, especially as it ripens and ferments. Regularly pick up any fallen fruit to reduce the attraction.
• Block Hive Access: Bees occasionally settle in wall voids or rooflines. Inspect your home for any cracks or holes where bees could access and seal them.
• Keep Flowering Plants at a Distance: If bees frequently swarm near high-traffic areas like patios or play spaces, consider planting flowering plants farther away from those areas to reduce encounters.

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Despite the occasional inconvenience of a bee swarm, bees are essential for pollination and contribute to the overall health of our ecosystems. Honey bees, in particular, are vital for pollinating fruits, vegetables, and flowers. By allowing bees to swarm safely and working with local beekeepers to relocate them, we can protect these valuable pollinators and ensure they continue to support our food systems.

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At Be Green Pro, we are passionate about preserving our local ecosystems and promoting pollinator-friendly practices. While bee swarms can be startling, they are a natural part of the life cycle and essential for maintaining a healthy bee population. By recognizing and reacting calmly to swarms, you can help protect bees and keep your outdoor spaces safe.

If you have questions or concerns about bees or other insects in your yard, feel free to contact Be Green Pro. While we don’t offer bee removal services, we are happy to help you connect with trusted local resources that do. Together, we can create healthier, safer environments for pollinators and people alike!

Link for The Milwaukee Waukesha Beekeepers Association where you can learn more about the application and instructions for becoming a beekeeper and what to do if you find a bee swarm.

https://mwbeekeepers.org/

Link for information on Bee Keeping in Milwaukee

https://city.milwaukee.gov/BeeKeepingInMilwaukee#:~:text=For%20problem%20infestations%2C%20contact%20your%20local%20pest%20management%20firm.&text=The%20Wisconsin%20Department%20of%20Agriculture,Course%20414%2D256%2D4600.

Link for Bee Keeping in Waukesha County

https://www.waukesha-wi.gov/government/departments/beekeeping.php

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