Need a Honey Bee Swarm removed?
Richmond Area Swarm Dispatcher Contact Steve White 804-337-9235
The Swarm Dispatcher will assign a Richmond Beekeeper Association member to remove a swarm from your property. This is usually a free or low cost service.
As part of their natural reproductive cycle, honey bees 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.
Please have the following information before calling:
- What does the swarm look like? If the swarm has a “nest” then it is likely not honey bees but hornets or wasps especially if it is “papery” looking. A swarm of honey bees will cluster into a roughly round shape on an object like a tree branch. (see photos below)
- Where is the swarm (physical address)?
- Contact name and phone number.
- What has the swarm landed on? How high up is the swarm?
- Are there any special concerns in the area? (children, water hazards, bees in the house, etc.)
- Are you sure they are honeybees? Check it out here: http://pollinator.com/identify/whatsbuzzin.htm
BEE REMOVALS and CUT OUTS (Removing bees from Structures)
Removing bees from structures can be a complicated and involved process and usually involves some carpentry. Expect this service to have a fee.
Bee Removal Source for Virginia: lists people who will remove honeybees listed by state. The link takes you to the Virginia page