As part of their natural reproductive cycle, honeybees will swarm. A swarm is when a queen and a good portion of the worker population of bees leave the hive to find a new home. While a honeybee swarm is relatively harmless, it can be a frightening sight to people. Swarms should not be sprayed with water or disturbed in any other way. It is best to clear the area until a beekeeper arrives to make the removal.

Knox-Lincoln County Beekeepers can help if one has found a swarm. There are beekeepers who belong to Knox-Lincoln County Beekeepers who can remove a swarm. They do not remove hornets’ nests, bumblebees, wasps, or other stinging insects – just honey bees.

To report a swarm and ask for assistance, contact “Report a Swarm.”

Thank you for taking good care of these important pollinators for our state.

Please note that exterminators will not kill honey bees and often refer homeowners to find a beekeeper. Conversely, beekeepers are not exterminators and will not remove other insects. Please try to identify them as honey bees and thank you for your interest in helping this important pollinator.