As part of their natural reproductive cycle, honeybees 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.

Knox-Lincoln County Beekeepers can help if one has found a swarm. There are beekeepers who can remove a swarm. They do not remove hornets’ nests, bumble bees, wasps or other stinging insects — just honeybees.

The organization also offers guidance on extractions from homes, buildings and other structures. That is generally a service where a homeowner will need to engage a professional with carpentry skills for a fee. The organization can’t always do it, but may be able to help one locate the right person. These member beekeepers act privately as a service to the public, and are facilitated but not endorsed by KLCB.

To report a swarm and ask for assistance, call Al Maloney at 832-5162.