Glossary
The natural reproductive process of a honey bee colony in which the existing queen and approximately half of the worker bee population leave the hive to establish a new colony elsewhere. The remaining bees raise a new queen and continue as the original colony. Swarming is how honey bee colonies reproduce at the colony level.
Swarming is triggered by colony-level factors: population crowding (insufficient space for the growing colony), queen pheromone dilution (in a large colony, QMP cannot reach all workers), congested brood nest, and seasonal timing (typically spring, during buildup). The colony prepares by building queen cells along the bottom edges of frames.
When queen cells are capped (the new queen is developing), the old queen and approximately half the workers engorge on honey and pour out of the hive entrance in a mass exodus. They cluster temporarily on a nearby surface (tree branch, fence post, building) while scouts search for a permanent nest site.
A swarm cluster is remarkably docile. The bees are homeless, engorged with honey, and focused on finding a new home rather than defending anything. Beekeepers can usually collect swarm clusters with bare hands or minimal protection. This docility makes swarm capture one of beekeeping's most exciting activities.
The cluster typically remains at the temporary site for 1-3 days while scouts search for and democratically decide on a permanent nest site. If left alone, the swarm will eventually fly to the chosen location and establish a new colony.
Swarm clusters are among the gentlest bee encounters possible. The bees have no home to defend, are engorged with honey (which physically limits their ability to sting), and are focused entirely on finding a new home. However, keep children and pets at a distance and contact a local beekeeper for free removal.
Swarming can be managed through space management (adding boxes before crowding), queen management (young queens swarm less), and splitting (dividing the colony preemptively). No method is 100 percent effective because swarming is a deeply ingrained biological drive.
Contact a local beekeeper or beekeeping association. Most beekeepers happily collect swarms for free because they represent a free colony. Do not spray the swarm with water or insecticide. The bees will typically leave on their own within 1-3 days if no beekeeper collects them.
Keep Learning
Browse hundreds of terms covering honey, beekeeping, and natural skincare.