It’s springtime and that means bees are on the move. According to the UC Davis Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program, warming temperatures prompt a queen and a group of worker bees to leave their original colony in search of a new nesting location.
The sight of a large number of bees flying by can be scary, but experts say spring honey bee swarms are typically docile. The swarm may rest on a tree limb or other location where most of the bees will remain, while several scouts continue the search for a suitable nesting location.
Swarming honey bees have been known to leave their temporary resting point after just a few hours or even a few days. It’s best to leave the bees alone, and soon they will be off to their new nest.
In cases where the swarm has stopped at a location that is potentially problematic including a school or a park, Contra Costa County citizens can contact the District for very limited services focused on inspection and assistance. The District may treat bees that are a threat to people in public areas. The Mt. Diablo Beekeepers Association can also be an important resource for bee swarms, particularly those on private property. Beekeepers will often remove the bees and relocate them to a hive where the bees can have the new home that prompted their swarm in the first place.
Information provided by Contra Costa Mosquito & Vector Control
4 comments
I would call a beekeeper if a swarm lasted for more than a week. A few of the bees somehow made it inside the house, but we got them carefully into jars and then let them out to join their buddies. All’s well.
Had bees move into my home a few years ago. They got into my siding through a small area where my water spigot comes through. Never seen so many bees in one spot. I didn’t want to kill them and found a lady in Martinez and she came out with a bee vacuum. It was going to be a free service but she had to remove some on the siding. I ended up giving her 90 bucks. She introduced them into her own colonies and sent me pictures. She said it’s a 50/50 chance they would take but they did. Bees are on there way back afters many years. Yay!
Oddly enough I ran across this story this morning. So sad. People can be so evil.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/beehives-in-texas-attacked-set-on-fire-killing-half-a-million-bees-officials-say/ar-AAAKolB?li=BBnbfcL
I will do free swarm removals in the local area too. Please check out my link for more info and feel free too share.
Thank you
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1983957085055038&id=100003222989063
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