What is a swarm?

A honey bee swarm is a natural phenomenon in which a large group of bees, typically with a queen bee, leaves their established hive en masse to search for a new location to establish a colony. Swarming is a reproductive strategy of honey bee colonies and usually occurs in the spring or early summer when the colony has grown large enough to divide.

During a swarm, the bees form a dense cluster around the queen, protecting her and ensuring the survival of the colony. The cluster may hang from a tree branch, fence, or other structure temporarily while scout bees search for a suitable new nesting site. Swarms can consist of thousands of bees and are often characterized by a buzzing sound and a swirling mass of insects in flight.

Honey bee swarms are not typically aggressive, as their primary focus is on finding a new home rather than defending their current location. However, they may appear intimidating due to their sheer numbers. Swarms are an essential part of honey bee reproduction and play a vital role in maintaining healthy bee populations and biodiversity.

Once a swarm has taken up residence, for example in a soffit, under siding, etc. they can be much more difficult and costly to remove.  Likely, you will need the services of a beekeeper to remove the bees and someone else to make repairs to the structure they were removed from.