Pueblo County Beekeepers Association

Got a Swarm? Reach Out to Us!

Honeybee Swarms

by L. Scott Stevenson

Swarm Commander: Cheryl Garcia: (719) 252-2406

Pueblo County Extension Agent: Tom Laca: (719) 850-3421

Be prepared to describe the swarm and location. The information below may be helpful when describing a swarm.

What is a swarm?

Swarms consist of a group of worker bees that have engorged themselves on honey and the queen. They engorge themselves in order to sustain the swarm until they find a place to live. A swarm of bees is the natural instinctive phenomena of the honeybee, this is a natural way of propagation. When something is not right in the beehive, the worker bees will decide that it’s time to leave. About half of the bees will leave the hive with the queen and swarm to a bush, tree limb, a house wall, a post or wherever they want. The swarm will stay there from a few minutes to a day until the scout bees find an acceptable place for a new hive.

Some of the reasons that the hive decides to swarm are:

• The hive might be too congested;
• Varroa mite infestation or, some other type of pest issue;
• An old failing queen with a spotty brood pattern, or not giving off enough of her pheromone to let the rest of the hive know she is there;
• Lack of ventilation;
• Or...some types of honeybees are just prone to swarming.

What do you do if you see a swarm of bee?

• Do not spray them with anything to try and kill them.
• Do not try and box them up or capture them without training.
• Call your County Extension Office, Tom Laca, 583-6566 and they will get someone out to get the swarm.
• Contact Pueblo County Beekeepers Association and we will get someone out to get the bees.
• L. Scott Stevenson PCBA Former President, (H) 543-9121; (C) 315-5473
• Cheryl Garcia, PCBA Swarm Commander, (719) 252-2406

Bees with Hives in Structures

• Do not spray them with anything to try and kill them.
• Do not try and box them up or capture them without training.
• Call your County Extension Office, Tom Laca, 583-6566 and they will get someone out to get the swarm.
• Contact Pueblo County Beekeepers Association and we will get someone out to get the bees.
• L. Scott Stevenson, PCBA  Former President, (H) 543-9121; (C) 315-5473
• Cheryl Garcia, PCBA Swarm Commander, (719) 252-2406