Middlesex Beekeepers’ Association Offers Tips for Residents on How to Handle Honeybee Swarms

The Middlesex County Beekeepers’ Association, Inc. would like to remind residents of Middlesex County and elsewhere how to identify a honeybee swarm and the resources available for safe and proper removal.

Honeybees usually swarm high off the ground, like in a tree branch. Honeybee swarms are not inherently dangerous and should NOT be killed. A local beekeeper would be happy to find them a new home!

Honeybees often swarm in Middlesex County in May and June. A swarm is a large group of honeybees resting together, usually on a tree branch or somewhere off the ground. This is the natural process of leaving an established hive for the purpose of starting a new one.

Swarms can be easily retrieved by trained beekeepers who know how to both care for the bees and protect the safety of the community.

If you see a swarm, please contact the Middlesex County Beekeepers’ Association Swarm Coordinator Alexandra Bartsch by phone 781-630-1129 or email her at [email protected].

A beekeeper can be on scene usually within one hour to retrieve the swarm, and remove it from your property.

“Honeybees are vital for our ecosystem and they have been in constant danger for many years from pesticides and other sources,” Bartsch said. “A beekeeper would be more than happy to find a new home for our little, honey-making friends.”

For more information on identifying honeybees and honeybee swarms, visit the Middlesex County Beekepers’ Association website, which also contains vital information and resources on how to differentiate between a honeybee swarm and wasps and more dangerous inspects.

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