🐝 The Swarm Scene: Why Honey Bees Swarm and What to Do About It
Understandng Honeybee swarms
🐝 The Swarm Scene: Why Honey Bees Swarm and What to Do About It
By Mark Vanderende | The Foraging Bee
Spring is in the air, flowers are blooming, and if you're lucky (or surprised!), you might witness one of nature's most remarkable events — a honey bee swarm.
But before you panic or start Googling “how to get rid of a bee cloud,” take a deep breath. Swarms are not only natural — they’re essential to the lifecycle of a thriving honey bee colony.
🌿 What Is a Swarm, Anyway?
A swarm is how a honey bee colony reproduces itself at the colony level. Think of it as a giant family road trip — about half the bees, including the old queen, pack up and leave the hive in search of a new home. This natural phenomenon typically occurs in the spring and early summer, during peak nectar flow.
It may look intense — thousands of bees buzzing mid-air or hanging in a cluster on a branch — but here’s the buzz: swarms are usually docile. Their bellies are full of honey, and they have no brood or hive to defend.
🔬 The Science Behind the Swarm
So, why do bees swarm in the first place? It comes down to overcrowding and survival.
Here are the key triggers:
1. Colony Congestion
When the hive gets crowded, communication becomes challenging, and queen pheromones — which help regulate colony behavior — don’t reach all the bees. The colony senses it’s time to grow beyond its current box.
2. Queen Pheromone Levels
The queen's scent, or pheromones, suppress the instinct to raise a new queen. As her pheromone levels weaken (often with age or population growth), workers may begin raising new queen cells.
3. Abundant Resources
A strong nectar flow gives bees the confidence to split. With plenty of food and workforce, the colony can afford to send out a new group to start fresh.
👀 Signs a Hive Is About to Swarm
As a beekeeper, recognizing the warning signs of an imminent swarm can help you act before your bees take off. Here’s what to watch for:
🏗️ Swarm Cells (queen cells at the bottom of frames)
👑 Slimmed-down Queen or reduced queen sightings
🚫 Backfilled Brood Nest (honey/nectar where brood should be)
🌡️ Bearding or Festooning Bees hanging outside the hive
🐝 Sudden Drop in Foraging followed by mass departure
If you're seeing these signs, consider splitting the colony or using checkerboarding techniques to give them space and delay the swarm impulse.
🐝 What Happens During a Swarm?
Here’s how it typically goes down:
Preparation Phase
Workers raise multiple queen cells. The old queen is slimmed down so she can fly, and a portion of the colony prepares to leave.Lift Off
On a warm midday, thousands of bees pour from the hive in a swirling mass. They usually settle nearby on a branch, fence, or structure.Scout Bees Get to Work
While the swarm clusters, scouts search for a new home. They communicate options through waggle dances until the colony reaches consensus and relocates together.
🐝🐝 Did You Know? Multiple Swarms Can Happen
The first swarm that leaves with the old queen is called the primary swarm — but that’s not always the end of the story.
🔄 What Are Afterswarms?
If more than one queen cell hatches inside the original hive — and population pressure remains high — additional swarms may follow, called afterswarms.
These contain:
A virgin queen
A smaller group of bees
Less commitment to clustering (they move fast!)
❓Why Do Afterswarms Occur?
Multiple queens hatch and don't fight
Swarm cells weren’t removed in time
The colony remains crowded or highly stimulated by nectar flow
Afterswarms may continue for days or even weeks, leaving your hive severely weakened if not managed.
👀 Found a Swarm? Here’s What to Do:
Don’t reach for the bug spray! Here’s a safer, smarter approach:
✅ DO:
Keep calm and observe from a safe distance.
Call a local beekeeper or swarm removal service (like yours truly!). Most will rehome them for free.
Snap a photo to help with identification and removal.
🚫 DON’T:
Spray or swat the bees.
Try to trap or contain them yourself if untrained.
Assume they’re dangerous — they’re full of honey and focused on relocation, not defense.
🧰 Methods of Capturing a Swarm
Capturing a swarm is often exhilarating and incredibly satisfying. Here's how it’s done:
🪣 1. Shake & Drop
Perfect for low-hanging branches. Place a box underneath, give a firm shake, and let the bees drop in.
🧹 2. Bee Brush or Sweep
For walls or flat surfaces. Use soft strokes to gather the bees gently into a container.
📦 3. Box & Lure
Set out a bait hive with swarm lure. Sometimes bees move in without any handling.
🪜 4. Bucket on a Pole
Ideal for high swarms. A pole-mounted bucket lets you collect bees from trees or roofs safely.
🚚 5. Let Them Cluster
If the swarm is still in flight, wait until it clusters — then collect with care.
🧰 Essential Tools for Swarm Catching
Beekeepers: having the right gear on hand makes all the difference. Here's your swarm toolkit:
🧲 Nuc box or hive box with drawn comb or lure
🪜 Ladder for high-access locations
🪣 Swarm bucket or pole with container attachment
💨 Smoker (optional, for calming returners)
🧹 Bee brush or feather
🍋 Swarm lure (lemongrass oil or pheromone bait)
🎒 BeeVac for enclosed or hard-to-reach swarms
🧤 Protective gear — veil, jacket, gloves
📸 Phone or camera to document and locate the queen
🏡 Where Do Swarms Go If Left Alone?
If no beekeeper steps in, a swarm will eventually relocate to a cavity — often a tree hollow, chimney, attic, wall, or compost bin. This is nature doing its thing, but:
Swarms in structures can lead to long-term infestations
Bees may be destroyed by pest control if not removed in time
Rehoming supports healthy apiaries and wild populations
That’s why ethical, trained removal is so important.
📬 Join Our Swarm Alert List!
Live in the Similkameen Valley or surrounding area?
🐝 We offer safe, respectful swarm collection and relocation.
👉 Visit theforagingbee.ca/swarm-alert (placeholder URL — let me know if you want a real sign-up form)
✨ Want to help? Become a community spotter and notify us when you see a swarm!
Together we can Connect | Explore | Sustain a thriving future for bees and people.
📥 Bonus: Stay Ahead of the Swarm
Track queen cells, colony mood, and hive dynamics with ease.
🎁 Download your FREE Hive Inspection Journal:
👉 The Foraging Bee Journal (PDF)
🐝 Let’s Bee Curious Together
Seen a swarm? Caught one? Have questions?
📸 Tag @foragingbee or send me a message — I’d love to hear your swarm stories.
Let’s keep learning and laughing with the bees this season.
Because every saved swarm is a story of stewardship in action.
—
The Foraging Bee
Connect | Explore | Sustain
www.theforagingbee.ca