Seeing a large cluster of bees can look intimidating, but it is typically a natural, safe behaviour. Your first step is to determine whether the bees are simply cooling off ("bearding") or preparing to relocate ("swarming").
Step 1: How to Tell if Bees are Bearding or Swarming
Use the characteristics below to identify what the bees are doing.
| Feature | Bearding | Swarming |
| Location | Clustered directly on the outside front of the hive box, near the entrance. | Clustered tightly on a tree branch, fence, or structure away from the hive, or flying in a large cloud. |
| Why it happens | The bees are regulating the hive temperature on a hot or humid day. | The colony has grown too large and a portion is leaving with a queen to find a new home. |
| Danger Level | Zero. This is standard hive maintenance. | Very low. Swarming bees are full of honey and focused on finding a home, making them highly docile. |
(Note: Ensure you are looking at honeybees, which are round, fuzzy, and build wax combs. Wasps have smooth bodies, narrow waists, build paper nests, and are more aggressive.)
Step 2: What to Do if the Bees are Bearding
Do nothing. Bearding is perfectly normal behaviour during warm weather. The bees will naturally retreat back inside the hive once the temperature drops in the evening.
Step 3: What to Do if the Bees are Swarming
If the bees are actively swarming, they are in a temporary holding pattern (usually leaving within 24–48 hours) while scout bees look for a permanent home. Here's what you can do if they're swarming:
1. Follow basic safety guidelines:
Keep a safe distance and do not disturb the cluster.
Do not spray the bees with water or any other products.
Avoid sudden movements near the swarm.
Inform others in the area so they are aware and can give the bees space.
2. Report the swarm:
If the swarm is near an Alvéole hive: Contact us immediately so we can dispatch a beekeeper. Email support@alveole.buzz (or call) with the following:
Subject Line: Emergency - [Client name and building address]
Description: A brief explanation of the situation.
Visuals: Photos of the swarm, noting the exact location on your property and how high up they are.
Contact Info: Your name, phone number, and email.
If the swarm is wild (not related to an Alvéole hive): Alvéole does not collect wild swarms. Please contact a local beekeeping association to safely collect and relocate them.
Important Service Limitations
Bees inside structures: If bees enter the walls, roof, or structure of your building, Alvéole cannot provide removal services. You must hire a licensed beekeeper to safely cut them out and relocate them. (Honeybees should never be exterminated, as they are protected and vital to the environment).
Wasp nests: Alvéole is not equipped or trained to handle wasps. If you locate a wasp nest, please hire a professional exterminator.
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