Is it dangerous when bees swarm?

Bees have many benefits for the environment, but that doesn’t mean you want them buzzing around your property. This is especially true if you have young children or pets who might get stung. When a bee colony exceeds its capacity, a group of bees leave to start a new colony. As they conduct their search for a new home, the bees swarm and stay together in a close group, protecting the queen in the center. This is known as swarming, and it can be quite hazardous to anyone who gets in the bees’ way.

Why Do Bees Swarm?

When bees leave the hive to start a new one, they first have to find a suitable location. Rather than sending scout bees, the bees swarm and all work together to find a home. Although they’ll typically leave the current queen in the previous hive, they’ll bring with them a young queen ready to repopulate the new colony. Queen bees are markedly different from worker bees, and they are particularly rare. That is why it is so important for the swarm to protect the queen. She’ll have a lot of work to do once the workers construct the new hive.

Are Bee Swarms Dangerous?

The answer to this question is both yes and no. If you keep to yourself and don’t bother the bees, they typically won’t bother you. Their primary goal is to protect the queen, so they aren’t going around looking for a fight. They’ll usually stay in a close group until they find a safe haven. If you see bees swarm, stay as far away from them as you can. Don’t chase the bees away or otherwise get them off your property. Stay inside, and keep your kids and pets indoors. Leave the relocation of the bees to the experts who have experience in handling this task.

If you get in the way of the swarm, you could be in serious danger. While a single bee sting won’t be harmful, if you aren’t allergic, multiple stings can pose much more of a risk. Even if you don’t have a bee sting allergy, multiple stings at the same time can cause a severe reaction. If you do sustain multiple stings, call for emergency help, or have a loved one drive you to a hospital right away. It’s much better to be safe than sorry and see a doctor even if you don’t think you are having an adverse reaction. Your doctor can let you know if there is anything else you need to do.

What to Do If You Encounter a Bee Swarm

If you find a swarm of bees on your property, the first thing you should do is head straight back inside. Close all of your windows and doors. Even if your windows have screens, those screens could have holes or tears that you didn’t notice. Bees can use these small openings to get inside your home, so it is easier just to close the windows.

Once you have verified that your home is secure, your next step should be to call your local pest control experts. Here at Budget Brothers Termite and Pest Elimination, we are proud to serve homeowners and businesses throughout the Phoenix Metro Area.

When you call us, we’ll send a pest control technician out to your location right away to assess the problem. We’ll take care of your bee swarm problem so that you and your loved ones can stay safe indoors.  If you notice a beehive around your house or yard, contact Budget Brothers Termite and Pest Elimination.