Photo Credit: Bee City USA®-Decatur, GA (Beecatur)
Honey bees live in large, complex colonies often made up of as many as 60,000 bees. In the springtime months, successful, populous honey bee colonies sometimes divide themselves in two. This process of colony reproduction is called swarming.
When swarming, the honey bee queen and approximately half of her workers leave the hive in search of a new home. The swarm first lands somewhere close to their original hive (e.g., on a tree branch, a porch railing, a mailbox, etc.). They form a protective ball of thousands of bees around the queen, while scouts seek out a suitable new permanent home. Once a new home has been identified, the swarm again takes flight, usually within 24 hours.
April and May are prime swarm season. Beekeepers will gladly capture swarms and give them a new home. If you see a honeybee swarm, contact your neighborhood beekeeper or call the Metro Atlanta Beekeepers Association Swarm Hotline at 404-519-4141 immediately.
To the non-beekeeper a honey bee swarm can seem fearsome. However, observed from a respectful distance, honey bee swarms can be a fascinating, even awe-inspiring, sight few people get to experience.
