2024 Officers

Treasurer: Kim Kasten
Secretary: Amber Sharapata
President Elect: Jim Swigart
President: Cheryl Miracle

So, you think you have a honeybee swarm…

Swarming is the process by which a new honey bee colony is formed when the queen bee leaves the colony with a large group of worker bees. Swarming is a honey bee colony’s natural means of reproduction. The swarm of bees will then congregate in an area and create a large ball of bees around their queen as scout bees search for a new place to take up residence. Once they find a suitable tree cavity, an abandoned hive, or a hollow space in the side of a house or other structure they start building a new hive in that space.

If you encounter a swarm please do not call an exterminator or spray them with pesticide. Honeybee swarms are a gift of nature and are simply looking for a new place to live. Post a message on our Facebook Page: Racine Kenosha Beekeepers Association Page and one of our members can respond immediately or send an email to the address above. A free hanging swarm will most likely be gone in a day or two. If they are in an area of concern or have taken up residence in a wall or other structure, do an Internet web search for “Honey Bee Removal” to find someone in your area that specializes in their rescue and safe removal.