Got a swarm right now? Call (818) 416-6622 or email [email protected]. Swarms move on, sometimes within hours, so sooner is better.
While you wait: keep people and pets a comfortable distance back, don't spray them with anything, and don't throw water at them. A settled swarm left alone is about as calm as honey bees get.
What a swarm actually is
A swarm is how honey bee colonies reproduce. In spring the old queen leaves with roughly half the workers, and they cluster somewhere in the open, often a branch, a fence rail, a wheelie bin or the underside of an eave, while scout bees go looking for a permanent home.
That cluster is temporary and usually gentle. They have no hive to defend, no brood, no stores, and they gorged on honey before leaving, which makes stinging awkward for them. It looks alarming and is generally the least defensive state you will ever encounter honey bees in.
It is also on a clock. Once the scouts agree on a home, the whole cluster lifts and goes. Sometimes that is two days, often it is a few hours. If you want it collected rather than moved into somebody's wall, the call is worth making early.
Is it a swarm, or something else?
This matters, because it changes who you should call.
| What you're seeing | What it probably is | Who to call |
|---|---|---|
| A hanging cluster of bees in the open, out for hours or days | A swarm | Me |
| Bees flying in and out of a hole in a wall, soffit or tree, day after day | An established colony with comb inside | A cut-out specialist |
| Papery grey nest, bees that look smooth and shiny, aggressive near the nest | Wasps or yellowjackets, not honey bees | Pest control |
| Large fuzzy bees going into a hole in the ground or a birdbox | Bumblebees, harmless and short-lived | Usually nobody |
Not sure which you have? Send me a photo. It takes me a few seconds to tell, and it saves you calling the wrong person.
What I don't do, and why I'll say so up front
If the bees have moved into a wall, roof, chimney or tree cavity and built comb, that is a cut-out, not a swarm collection. It means opening the structure, removing the comb, and sealing it properly so the next swarm doesn't smell the old wax and move straight back in. Done badly it leaves honey rotting in a wall.
That is specialist work and it isn't what I do. I'll tell you that on the phone rather than after driving out, and point you at someone who does it properly.
How the collection works
- You call or send a photo. I'll tell you honestly whether it's a swarm I can take.
- We agree a time. Usually same day if the swarm is accessible and I'm in the area.
- I collect the cluster into a box, ideally with the queen, and leave the box until dusk if stragglers are still flying, so I get the whole colony rather than half of it.
- The bees go to one of my apiaries, get a proper hive, and get looked after.
Height and access decide most of it. A cluster at chest height on a fence is straightforward. Thirty feet up an oak is a different conversation, and sometimes the honest answer is to let it go.
Why call a beekeeper instead of an exterminator
A swarm is a healthy colony looking for a home. Killed, it's a dead colony and a mess to clean up. Collected, it's a hive that pollinates, and there's every chance yours ends up producing honey next season.
There's a practical angle too: an exposed swarm that gets sprayed often doesn't die outright, it gets agitated and stays put. Collection is usually faster, cleaner and quieter than the alternative.
Frequently asked questions
Is a honey bee swarm dangerous?
A settled swarm is about as docile as bees get. No hive, no stores and no brood to defend, and they've filled up on honey before leaving. Keep a sensible distance, keep pets in, and leave them alone.
How long will they stay?
Often hours, sometimes a couple of days. Scouts are out house-hunting and the cluster leaves when they agree. That's why calling early matters.
Do you charge for swarm collection?
Get in touch and I'll tell you straight. It depends mostly on access and height, and I'd rather quote you honestly than surprise you.
The bees are inside my wall. Can you help?
That's a cut-out rather than a swarm and it means opening the structure. I don't do structural removals, but I'll point you to someone who does them properly and takes the comb out.
Should I spray them?
Please don't. It makes them defensive, doesn't reliably work on an exposed cluster, and destroys a colony that would otherwise be rehomed.
When is swarm season here?
On the South Coast, roughly March through June, with the peak in April and May. They do happen outside that window, just less often.
What areas do you cover?
Santa Barbara, Goleta, Montecito, Carpinteria, Isla Vista and the surrounding South Coast.