Bee Services

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Every spring or summer, as part of the reproduction process, approximately half of the bees leave, or "swarm" from the hive with their queen to search for a new home. The bees that decide to stay behind will make a new queen and start a new colony in the original location. By doing this, honeybees are able to grow their colony numbers and avoid extinction by not only reproducing as individual organisms, but as a super organism as well. 

A bee swarm will often cluster into a ball shape and can be as large as a basketball! These swarms can be observed near the ground or up high in a tree, and may hang there for just a few hours or for several days. 

The swarm will send out scout bees to look for viable hive sites. If they find one that they like, they will tell the rest of the swarm through a "waggle" dance. The cluster of bees will then fly to the new site and begin moving in. 

All bee colonies will have the natural urge to swarm, whether in the wild or in "captivity," so it is very likely that a swarm you come across could have come from someone else's hive. Beekeepers do their best to prevent their bees from swarming naturally -- by manually splitting them early -- but swarming can still happen after the fact later in the season, especially if the beekeeper overlooks telltale signs of a coming swarm. 

Remain calm! Swarms are generally harmless, but there is always a possibility for them to become defensive if provoked. It's best to leave them be and reach out to a local beekeeper (us if you're in Northern Virginia!) to have them relocated. 

Relocation is ideal, as it is possible for the swarm to move into a structure, which may result in a possible nuisance to someone who may not enjoy the company of a few thousand bees. Swarm survivability in the wild is also statistically low, so they may starve before finding a new home if left to their own devices. 

If the swarm is in close proximity to children, pets, or the general public, it is advisable to cordon off the area to help prevent beestings or injury to the swarm. Swarms can land on tree branches near sidewalks and building entrances. Remember, swarms are generally docile and unlikely to attack, but kids and pets may try to interact with them using a more hands-on approach. 

Swarms can move quickly, so if you have a few minutes to spare,  definitely admire the bees at work from a reasonable distance as they look for a new home. When they want to mobilize all at once, the cloud of bees that results is an incredible sight to see. 

If you're in Northern Virginia, Southern Maryland, or in the Spotsylvania County, Virginia area, we can help! 

Please call or text (240) 372-9053 and we can come capture the swarm or hive, or help find someone who can! Swarms can move quickly, so time is of the essence. 

We will remove the bees for no charge if:

• they are easily accessible from a branch with a 6 foot ladder or are at ground level
• they are  on or inside a structure accessible on the ground or in a ceiling accessible from a 6 foot ladder with minimal removal to building materials. 

For all other removals, we may need to assess a reasonable fee to account for the extra time needed to safely remove the swarm or hive. We will do our best to be as non-intrusive as possible, but the removal of building materials may be necessary in order to reach the entire swarm for capture, especially if they have established a hive. We cannot be held responsible for damaged or removed materials, or for any property damage that occurs as a result of the swarm or hive removal. Removed materials should be reinstalled or replaced by a qualified contractor. 

We cannot guarantee a response to all requests due to potential scheduling conflicts. In the event that we cannot quickly respond to a call, we will do our best to put you in touch with another beekeeper who may be able to respond faster. 

We do not do yellow jacket or wasp removals at this time, please reach out to a local pest control provider for these types of nests.