Around the Countryside

Marion Barnes, Senior County Extension Agent

Clemson University

There are several sure signs that spring has arrived in the Low Country. All your vehicles have turned yellow overnight (pollen), more people wearing camo clothing (turkey season), yards & pastures begin to green-up (weeds emerging) and swarming honey bees. Few things will grab one’s attention as quickly as the sight of thousands of buzzing bees clustered on a tree branch or flying through your yard. After all, these are stinging insects that will defend themselves if disturbed.

Swarming is a natural process by which bees form new colonies in response to crowding within the colony. Generally, swarming occurs in spring and early summer and coincides with nectar flow when a wide variety of plants are in bloom, providing nectar and pollen resources. Swarming’s primary season occurs between March and May, but secondary swarms can occur late in the season. Honey bee swarms can contain a few hundred to several thousand worker bees, a few drones, and one queen. Swarming bees fly around to locate a suitable limb, tree branch, or other objects for a short time. When the queen finds an appropriate location, she emits pheromones that signal worker bees to cluster around her. The cluster will remain stationary for a few hours to a few days until scout bees find a suitable location for a new nesting site, such as a hollow tree.

According to experts, when honeybees are swarming, they are not nearly as defensive as they are around their hives because they are not protecting the brood (developing young bees) or stores of honey. However, if disturbed, they will defend the cluster; therefore, it is advisable for people, especially those who are allergic to honey bee stings, to keep a safe distance from the swarm to avoid being stung.

In most situations, when a swarm is found in a tree or shrub, you need to do nothing other than staying back and keep a safe distance. However, suppose the swarm is located in a problematic place and poses a health threat, such as a highly traveled area, playgrounds, schoolyards, etc., and needs to be removed. In that case, you should contact a local beekeeper for assistance. South Carolina beekeepers are located throughout the state, and many are eager to collect swarms to start new colonies, enhancing the chances the swarm will survive. The best way to locate a swarm collector is to contact a local beekeeping association. You can find a list of local beekeeper associations and their contact information at the link below:

https://scstatebeekeepers.com/about/local-associations/.

It is not illegal to destroy a swarm of honeybees, but it is not advisable. Trying to destroy a swarm can be dangerous, especially without the correct protective gear. Honey bees are beneficial pollinators that support agriculture and native plant communities. They can also provide beekeepers with additional income. Therefore contacting the nearest local beekeeper’s association to notify them about a swarm should be the first step in removing them. For more information on honey bees and pollinator protection, visit the Clemson Apiculture and Pollinator website at https://www.clemson.edu/extension/pollinators/index.html

For additional information on honey bee swarms, checkout the Clemson Home and Garden Fact Sheet HGIC 1736, Frequently Asked Questions About Honey Bee Swarms at the link below: https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/frequently-asked-questions-about-honey-bee-swarms/

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