Report a Swarm

Report a swarm and I will help you find a beekeeper to safely relocate the bees.

If you've spotted a honey bee swarm, please:

• Take a photo if possible (safely from a distance)
• Verify it's actually a honey bee swarm using the guide below
• Fill out our Swarm Report Form

What is a Bee Swarm?

A bee swarm is a natural part of honey bee colony reproduction. When a colony becomes too large for its current home, more than half of the bees will leave with the old queen to find a new home, while the remaining bees stay and raise a new queen.

A typical honey bee swarm cluster

Is it Really a Honey Bee Swarm?

It's essential to correctly identify whether you're dealing with honey bees or wasps. Here are key differences:

Honey Bee Swarms:

• Form a tight cluster of bees
• Usually found on tree branches or structures
• Temporary - may only stay for hours or days
• Bees are fuzzy and golden-brown
• Generally very docile during swarming

A typical honey bee swarm

Wasp Nests (Not Bee Swarms):

• Create paper-like nests
• Often under eaves or in bushes
• Permanent structure that grows over time
• Wasps are smooth and more aggressive
• Will defend their nest if disturbed

A wasp nest (not a bee swarm)

Other Types of Wasp Nests:

Yellowjacket nest - notice the paper-like structure and exposed cells

How to Identify Honey Bees

It's important to know what a honey bee looks like compared to similar insects. Many people confuse wasps and hornets for honey bees. Here's a helpful comparison:

This guide shows the differences between honey bees and similar insects. True honey bees (Apis mellifera) have fuzzy, golden-brown bodies, while wasps and hornets (like the Bald-faced Hornet, European Hornet, German Yellowjacket, and European Paper Wasp) are smooth-bodied with bright yellow markings. Note that bumblebees, while also bees, are different from honey bees and are also beneficial pollinators.

Important Notes About Swarms

While a swarm is formed, the honey bees are extremely gentle. They have no home to protect, no young to care for, and no honey stores. However, you should still:

• Keep a safe distance
• Do not spray water or chemicals on the swarm
• Keep children and pets away from the area
• Call a beekeeper right away - swarms may only stay temporarily
• A beekeeper can safely relocate the swarm to a proper hive where they will be cared for