What to do if you encounter a swarm of BEES

Here in Arizona, bees swarm in the spring and fall for the most part. A swarm of bees is when a colony splits and the queen, with 1/3 to 1/2 of the bees, leaves to start a new colony. You may see them fly in the air resembling a dark cloud, or you may discover a ball of bees in your tree. Bee swarms are not necessarily something to fear. As long as you don’t mess with them, the bees will leave you alone. Here are a few tips to deal with a swarm of bees.

1. Keep your distance. The main focus of the bees is to protect the queen. 100 % of the worker bees are female. Don’t mess with the queen and you will be fine.

2. Do not aggravate the bees. Some people think that if they throw something at the bees or take a water hose to them, it will encourage them to move along. All this will do is upset them and they will attack the aggravator or even an innocent bystander.

3. Most swarms will leave on their own within 48 hours. If they stay longer, the swarmis in a high traffic area, someone is allergic, or there are small children/pets around, then it is best to call a professional. Luckey Bee can come out and rescue and relocate them. Bees are a vital part of our environment. It is important to save as many as possible. We are always here to answer any questions you may have.