Swarm season: Local beekeepers prepared to remove swarming bees

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A swarm of bees in Morris Township, Greene County.

Courtesy of Perry Arlia

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Perry Arlia handles a honeybee swarm in Cecil Township.

Courtesy of Perry Arlia

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Shelly Arlia with a swarm in Amwell Township.

Courtesy of Perry Arlia

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Reports of honeybee swarms have started to tick up recently, and local beekeepers are ready to safely remove them if they pop up on your property.

Swarm season actually came a bit early this year. Fred Miller, president of the Tri-County Beekeepers Association of Southwestern Pennsylvania, said that has to do with warmer weather

“Everything is two weeks early,” Miller said.

The Tri-County Beekeepers Association serves Washington, Fayette and Greene counties. While the organization strives to help newcomers get into beekeeping, it also keeps a roster of beekeepers who can take care of reported swarms.

Miller, of Uniontown, said swarms can become a bigger problem if not dealt with soon, and could potentially take up residence in your home.

“If they move into someone’s house, we have to open a wall up to get them out,” Miller said.

Perry Arlia does similar work as the president of the Washington County Beekeepers Association of Pennsylvania.

“We have a swarm list, and then we work with other bee associations that are close to us,” Arlia said. “If I get a call in Charleroi, I’ll call beekeepers that I have on my list that live in that area, if they want to go help the people out.”

Arlia explained that honeybees form swarms as a means of reproducing and establishing a new colony.

He recommends reporting the swarm right away, and to avoid spraying the bees with a hose or any kind of insecticide. This will only anger the bees and spread them out.

“When you see a swarm, they are probably at their most docile state,” Arlia said.

The time of day a swarm appears also changes the consideration. A swarm spotted before noon may move on in the afternoon, or into a house.

“That’s why you should call someone. Say someone sees a swarm from 2 o’clock on, they will stay there all night. A swarm is real docile during the day. As the sun starts to set, they become a little bit more protective, more aggressive in protecting the colony,” Arlia said.

As long as the bees remain outside, their calm nature makes them easy to handle for those with gentle hands. If they’re in a tree, Arlia said it can be as simple as cutting off a branch and putting it in a box.

“Naturally, we want to swat at things as people. As a beekeeper you learn not to make quick or fast movements with your hands. You always move slow,” Arlia said.

The queen honeybee is always a high priority target when dealing with swarms.

“If you find the queen and put her in the box, they’ll march right in. Mainly when they’re in the swarm like that, they are protecting the queen. When you remove her, they’re moving to protect her,” Arlia said.

The Washington County Beekeepers Association Pennsylvania has a Facebook page where people can post requests to have swarms removed from their properties. The Tri-County Beekeepers Association can be contacted at 724-317-2009.