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When bees swarm, choose fascination, not fear
COLUMBUS, Miss. -- The fear of being stung by thousands of swarming bees typically sends people running for a can of pesticide.
But swarming is a dramatic display of democracy in action and can be a source of wonder instead of panic for those who understand what is going on.
Reid Nevins, Lowndes County coordinator of the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said bees swarm as part of the natural process of establishing new colonies.
“Honey bees are not usually aggressive when swarming because they don’t have a hive to protect,” Nevins said. “They are simply splitting off from the original colony, followed by landing on a bush or other object temporarily, and from the protective ball of bees they send scouts to find the ideal location for their new home.”
As the scouts return to the swarm -- that brown mass of bees hanging from a tree branch or porch -- they lobby for their choice in an intricate dance. Often, several scouts have found potential new homes, and other workers are recruited to investigate each spot. Each returning bee may dance, and the process continues until they reach consensus and lead the rest of the swarm to the new location. In some ways, they resemble real estate agents convincing prospective buyers to select the location they think is best.
“They’re relatively vulnerable during this stage because the queen is with them and they need her to survive the relocation so she can lay eggs once they’ve built enough comb in their new spot,” he said. “If she doesn’t survive, they’re doomed.”
Increased attention to the plight of bees across the world has led many people to become more interested in beekeeping as a hobby and in protecting bees in general. Still, seeing a swarm of bees can be intimidating.
“The first thing people need to do is stay calm and let nature take its course,” Nevins said. “If you see a swarm of bees hanging in a tree, on a fence post or in a bush, just leave it alone.”
The swarm likely will move on in a matter of hours if the weather is good. Some swarms take two to three days to find a new home, but after much longer than that, the swarm may not survive.
“If you want to get the swarm removed, call your local Extension office to see if they have a list of local beekeepers who are interested in swarm catching,” Nevins said. “The beekeeper will need to know how high the swarm is off the ground and any particular challenges related to retrieving the swarm. It’s good for both parties to know what is involved and to be prepared with ladders or other equipment.”
Many beekeepers also leave their contact information with local animal control officers, pest control companies and even law enforcement departments.
“Yes, some folks actually call the police when they see a swarm of bees,” Nevins said. “This time of year, most beekeepers, myself included, keep a five-frame box in the truck just in case we get a swarm call and can go get it.”
In every case, avoid spraying the bees with pesticide, especially if someone is coming to catch the swarm. Once the bees have been sprayed, a beekeeper will not be able to save them.
“Whenever possible, leaving the bees alone is the best course of action,” said Jeff Harris, MSU Extension beekeeping specialist. “But if they are a health hazard due to an allergy, they appear to be taking up residence in the walls of your house, or they are in a high-traffic area and must be removed immediately, you can spray them with soapy water instead of insecticide. I encourage everyone to try and get a beekeeper first, and only kill them as a last resort.”
Soapy water is a non-toxic alternative to pesticide and will kill the bees very quickly, in about 30 seconds to minutes, if applied correctly. Use 1 cup of liquid dish detergent per gallon of water in a pressure garden sprayer.
“Put the spray wand on a wide swath to coat the swarm evenly with the soapy water at application,” Harris said. “I still recommend a veil for protection.”
For more information about honey bees, visit the MSU Extension beekeeping blog at https://blogs.msucares.com/honeybees/. To learn more about bee swarming behavior, visit http://www.nbb.cornell.edu/seeley.shtml or read Cornell professor Thomas Seeley’s book “Honeybee Democracy.”