Reported a Bee Swarm in the Southwest? What Happens Next

You’ve Done Your Part—Now What?

First, thank you. By reporting a honey bee swarm, you’ve taken a crucial step to protect pollinators and support your local community. Especially during peak swarm season in late spring, residents of Phoenix, Tucson, and Mesa play a vital role in connecting honey bees with beekeepers who can give them a safe home. But after you click “submit,” you might be wondering what comes next.

This guide walks you through the process, from the initial alert to the arrival of a beekeeper, and clarifies why some bee removals in our region might come with a cost.

The Swarmed Alert Process: Connecting Bees to Beekeepers

Once you submit your report through the Swarmed platform, our system gets to work immediately. Here’s a step-by-step look at what happens behind the scenes:

1. Instant Confirmation: You will receive an email confirming that we have received your report. This email contains the details you provided and lets you know the process has begun.
2. Alerting Local Beekeepers: Your report is instantly dispatched as a notification to registered beekeepers in your immediate vicinity. Our network includes dozens of dedicated beekeepers across the state ready to respond.
3. A Beekeeper Claims the Swarm: A nearby beekeeper will review the report and can “claim” it through the Swarmed app. This signals to other beekeepers that someone is heading to the location.
4. You Get Notified: Once a beekeeper has claimed your report, you’ll receive a second notification. This lets you know that help is on the way. Response times can vary depending on the time of day, your location, and beekeeper availability, so a little patience is appreciated.

Understanding Bee Behavior in Our Desert Climate

Beekeeping in the American Southwest presents unique challenges. Many of the honey bees here are descended from Africanized bees. While they are excellent pollinators well-suited to our hot, dry climate, they are also known for being more defensive than their European counterparts.

This heightened defensiveness means that local beekeepers must be exceptionally skilled and take extra precautions when handling them. They are not “killer bees,” but they are quick to defend their colony if they feel threatened. This inherent risk is a key factor that beekeepers must consider, and it leads to an important distinction in bee removal services.

Free Swarm Rescue vs. Paid Colony Removal

One of the most common points of confusion is about cost. Is bee removal free? The answer depends entirely on what kind of bee situation you have. The terms “swarm” and “established hive” mean very different things to a beekeeper.

What is a Swarm? (Usually Free)

A swarm is a temporary, transient cluster of bees. It’s a ball of usually about 5,000 to 20,000 bees and a queen resting on a tree branch, a fence, or the side of a building. They are in the process of looking for a new home.

• Behavior: Bees in a swarm are typically very docile. They have filled up on honey before leaving their old home and have no babies (brood) or honeycomb to defend.
• Removal: For a beekeeper, collecting a swarm is relatively straightforward. They can often just brush the bees into a box. Because these bees are a valuable and gentle resource for their apiary, swarm collection is normally a free service offered by beekeepers.

What is an Established Hive? (Requires a Quote)

An established hive or colony is different. This is when bees have moved into a structure—like the wall of your house, a shed, a roof eave, or an irrigation box. They have started building wax comb, laying eggs, and storing honey. They are no longer just passing through; they have made a permanent home.

• Behavior: These bees will be defensive. They have a home, brood, and food stores to protect.
• Removal: Removing an established hive is a complex job known as a “cutout.” It often involves carpentry, specialized equipment to access the bees, and careful removal of honeycomb. This is labor-intensive work that can take several hours and requires structural repairs. Because of the difficulty, risk, and time involved, a cutout is a paid service. The beekeeper will assess the complexity and provide a fair quote for the removal, which you can choose to accept or decline.

Your Report Powers a Statewide Network

When you report a swarm, you’re not just solving a problem in your backyard—you’re contributing to a larger effort. Last year, community reports from across the region helped local beekeepers rescue over 480 swarms, giving those colonies a chance to thrive. Your observation provides crucial information that helps protect honey bees from extermination and supports the beekeepers who manage these essential pollinators.

Seeing a bee swarm is your chance to be a hero for honey bees and your community. Your report can save a colony, so if you see a swarm, please take a moment to report it to Swarmed (opens in a new tab).