LAMORINDA WEEKLY | Springtime is swarm season for honeybees


A honeybee swarm lands temporary on a branch until a new home is found.

Swarming is when thousands of honeybees fly together in search of a new home. Swarming is a natural part of the honeybee lifecycle in spring and summer. Swarms fill the sky with a buzzing, swirling cloud of honeybees. Look up! A swarm is an amazing sight.

The swarm of bees will find a place to land-in a tree or on a fence or some other temporary gathering place. They form a cluster that looks like a big ball of bees. They will stay there for a few hours or a few days until they find a permanent home. Swarms are not dangerous if left alone. If you see a swarm that has landed near the ground, call a beekeeper. A beekeeper will rescue the swarm and find it a good home.

Report swarms to the Mount Diablo Beekeepers Association. MDBA volunteers remove swarms, which are prized by beekeepers for their healthy genetics. Help save a swarm, and you will help the honeybee and the environment.

How to find a swarm collector:

Go to www.diablobees.org

Click on "Report a Swarm" at the top of the page.

Click on the map or download the "Swarm Removal List" to find a volunteer in your area.

Call the volunteer and be ready to answer some questions about what you see.

The MDBA requests a $50 donation for collecting a swarm. These funds support programs to educate the public about honeybees and the vital role they play in our environment.