Swarm Services

A honey bee swarm is an example of honey bee colony reproduction in action. In the spring and into early summer, a honey bee colony will raise new queens and divide. Most bees will stay in the old hive location, but a sizable amount of bees will leave with a queen in a swarm looking for a new hive location. In transit, the bees will swarm into a clustered staging area awaiting their scouts to find and then guide them to a new hive location. This swarm can be very unnerving to people unaccustomed to this behavior.

This is a natural event that happens many times throughout the year. A honey bee swarm is extra-gentle, and not something to be feared, but something to be cherished — we so desperately need more honey bees! Honey bees reproducing is a good thing.

That being said, honey bee swarms can be a nuisance and often move into a new location that is inconvenient to us humans. If you suspect you have a swarm in your yard, please contact one of the people listed below. We have also provided a question list to help determine the location and nature of the swarm.

Swarm Coordinator

Terry Wright

919-280-6603

Terry is our swarm coordinator. Please give her time to respond. If she does not respond within an hour or two, please feel free to call one of the beekeepers listed at the bottom of the page.

Is this a free service?

Please be aware that...

beekeepers may charge a fee

...or ask for a donation for their time for the removal to help compensate for the costs of equipment, fuel, and time.

Honey bee swarm on branch. (image in public domain)

Tell us about this swarm

Make sure you have the following information:

    • Are you sure these are honey bees? If they are wasps/yellow-jackets, call an exterminator. If you are unsure, call us.
  • Are these bees on your property?
    • How big is the ball of bees? Softball, volleyball, basket ball sized?
    • For how long have the bees been there?
  • Where are the bees?
      • Are the bees within a structure?
      • Are the bees on a tree branch? Or some other tall location?
      • How high in the air?
      • Do you have access to a ladder that can reach them?
    • Have they built a nest of any sort?
    • Will there be someone there? I.e., will there be someone at the location to meet the beekeeper?
swarm removal from up high
2011 Swarm Catchers