Welcome to the Lane County Beekeepers Association!

Swarming is a natural process in the life of a honey bee colony.   Swarming occurs when a large group of honey bees leaves an established colony and flies off to create a new colony, their version of colony reproduction.  Swarming is a natural method of propagation that occurs in response to crowding within the colony. Swarming usually occurs in late spring and early summer, April to July in the Willamette Valley, although later season swarms are possible.

Honey bee swarms may contain several hundred to several thousand bees, and a queen. Swarming bees fly around briefly and then cluster on a tree limb, shrub or other object. Clusters usually remain stationary for an hour to a few days, depending on weather and the time needed to find a new nest site by scouting bees. When a suitable location for the new colony, such as a hollow tree, is found the cluster breaks up and flies to it.

Honey bee swarms are not highly dangerous under most circumstances. The bees feed prior to swarming, reducing their ability to sting. Also, bees away from the vicinity of their nest (offspring and food stores) are less defensive and are unlikely to sting unless provoked.

When you encounter a swarm, you can call a beekeeper to remove or rehome it. If left alone the swarm will usually move on, although sometimes the new home that they find on their own can be inconvenient to their human neighbors, especially in an urban setting.