What Do You Call a Group of Beehives? Apiaries & Swarming

If you've ever driven past a field dotted with white boxes or wondered about the proper terminology for bee-related things, you might have asked: what do you call a group of beehives? And if you've witnessed thousands of bees clustering on a tree branch, you've probably wondered: why do bees swarm?

At The Other Bee Guy, we work with bee colonies every day—relocating them from places they don't belong to locations where they can thrive. Understanding bee terminology and behavior helps us do our job better, and it can help you understand these fascinating insects too.

In this guide, we'll answer all your questions about beehive groups, bee colonies, and the incredible phenomenon of swarming.

What Do You Call a Group of Beehives?

A group of beehives is called an apiary. The term comes from the Latin word "apis," meaning bee. An apiary can contain anywhere from a few hives to hundreds, depending on the beekeeper's operation.

Related Bee Terminology

Understanding bee vocabulary helps clear up common confusion:

Term	Definition
Apiary	A location where beehives are kept; a group of beehives
Beehive	The physical structure where bees live (natural or man-made)
Bee colony	The community of bees living together as a social unit
Swarm	A group of bees that has left a hive to establish a new colony
Beekeeper	A person who maintains bee colonies; also called an apiarist
Apiculture	The practice of keeping bees; beekeeping

Colony vs. Hive: What's the Difference?

People often use "hive" and "colony" interchangeably, but they mean different things:

A bee colony refers to the bees themselves—the living community of workers, drones, and queen functioning as a superorganism. A colony of bees can survive the loss of individual members because the colony itself is the organism.

A beehive refers to the physical structure where the colony lives. This could be a man-made wooden box, a hollow tree, or a cavity in your wall. The hive is the house; the colony is the family living inside.

A single apiary might contain 20 hives, but if one colony dies over winter while others survive, you'd still have 20 hives but only 19 colonies.

Understanding a Bee Colony

A bee colony is one of nature's most remarkable social structures. Understanding how colonies work helps explain why bees swarm and how we approach bee removal and relocation.

The Three Types of Bees in a Colony

Every bees colony contains three castes:

Queen Bee:

Only one per colony (usually)
The only bee that lays fertilized eggs
Can live 3-5 years
Releases pheromones that unify the colony
Her health determines colony survival

Worker Bees:

All female
Make up 95%+ of the colony
Perform all labor: foraging, nursing, building, guarding
Live 4-6 weeks in summer, several months in winter
Cannot reproduce (sterile)

Drone Bees:

All male
Sole purpose is mating with virgin queens
Do no work within the hive
Expelled from the colony before winter
Die after mating

Colony Population

A healthy bee colony fluctuates in size throughout the year:

Spring: 10,000-30,000 bees (building up)
Summer peak: 40,000-60,000+ bees
Fall: Population decreases as colony prepares for winter
Winter: 10,000-20,000 bees cluster for warmth

This population cycle directly relates to swarming behavior—colonies swarm when they're thriving and populations are booming.

Why Do Bees Swarm?

Why do bees swarm? It's one of the most common questions we hear, especially from homeowners who suddenly find thousands of bees clustered in their yard. Swarming is the natural method by which bee colonies reproduce—not individual bees, but entire colonies.

The Natural Purpose of Swarming

Swarming is how a single colony of bees becomes two colonies. When conditions are right, the original queen leaves with roughly half the workers to establish a new home, while a new queen emerges to lead the remaining bees.

Think of it as colony cell division—one healthy colony becoming two healthy colonies. It's essential for bee population growth and genetic diversity.

Why Do Honey Bees Swarm? Common Triggers

Why do honey bees swarm? Several factors trigger this behavior:

Overcrowding:

The most common trigger. When a hive becomes too populous, bees run out of space for:

Brood (baby bees)
Honey storage
Comfortable living conditions

Overcrowding also reduces the spread of queen pheromones, signaling workers that it's time to raise new queens.

Spring buildup:

Colonies naturally expand rapidly in spring as flowers bloom and resources become abundant. This population explosion often leads to swarming between March and June—prime swarm season in Florida.

Strong genetics:

Some bee genetics are more prone to swarming than others. Colonies with "swarmy" genetics may swarm even when space isn't critically limited.

Poor ventilation:

Hives that are too hot or poorly ventilated may trigger swarming as bees seek better conditions.

Aging queen:

When a queen's pheromone production weakens with age, workers may prepare to swarm and replace her.

Why Would Bees Swarm from a Healthy Hive?

Why would bees swarm if everything seems fine? This confuses many people who associate swarming with problems. Actually, swarming typically indicates a thriving colony:

The colony has grown strong enough to divide
Resources are plentiful
The queen is (or was recently) laying well
The colony's survival instinct drives reproduction

Swarming isn't a sign of distress—it's a sign of success. A weak, struggling colony rarely swarms because it can't afford to lose half its population.

Why Do Honeybees Swarm? The Process Explained

Understanding the swarming process helps explain why do honeybees swarm and what you're witnessing when you see a swarm.

Stage 1: Preparation

Weeks before swarming, the colony begins preparing:

Workers build special queen cells (swarm cells)
The queen's egg-laying slows
Scouts begin searching for new home locations
Workers engorge on honey for the journey

Stage 2: Beehive Swarm Cells

Beehive swarm cells are one of the clearest indicators that a colony is preparing to swarm. These are special, elongated cells—usually found on the bottom edges of frames—where new queens develop.

Characteristics of swarm cells:

Peanut-shaped, hanging vertically
Typically found on frame bottoms or edges
Multiple cells (3-20+) produced simultaneously
Larger than regular cells
Capped when larva is ready to pupate

When beekeepers spot swarm cells, they know the colony intends to swarm within 1-2 weeks unless intervention occurs. For wild colonies in structures, swarm cell production is a normal part of the reproductive cycle.

Stage 3: The Swarm Emerges

On a warm, calm day (usually late morning), swarming begins:

The old queen and roughly half the workers exit the hive
They form a temporary cluster nearby (tree branch, fence, building)
Scout bees search for permanent home locations
The swarm may rest for hours to several days
Once scouts agree on a location, the swarm departs

This temporary cluster is what most people see—a basketball-sized (or larger) mass of bees hanging from a structure. Despite looking terrifying, swarms are typically docile because the bees have no home or honey to defend.

Stage 4: New Home Establishment

The swarm eventually moves to its permanent location:

A hollow tree
A wall cavity in a building
An empty beehive
A shed, soffit, or other protected space

This is when swarms become our concern at The Other Bee Guy. A swarm in a tree is temporary and often moves on. A swarm that enters your walls becomes an established colony requiring professional bee removal.

What to Do When Honey Bees Swarm

If you encounter a bee swarm, knowing what to do when honey bees swarm can prevent problems and potentially save the colony.

If You See a Swarm Cluster (Temporary)

When bees are clustered on a tree, bush, fence, or exterior surface:

Do:

Stay calm—swarms are usually docile
Keep children and pets away
Observe from a safe distance
Contact a local beekeeper or bee removal service
Give them 24-72 hours if they're not in a problematic location

Don't:

Spray them with water or chemicals
Try to knock them down
Panic or make sudden movements near them
Assume they'll stay forever (they usually move on)

Many beekeepers collect swarms for free because they're essentially free bees—healthy colonies looking for homes. If you have a swarm in a non-problematic location, a quick call to a local beekeeping association often results in free removal.

If Bees Enter a Structure

When bees move into walls, attics, sheds, or other structures, the situation changes:

Immediate actions:

Note exactly where bees are entering
Keep the area clear of people and pets
Don't seal the entrance (traps bees inside, causing bigger problems)
Contact professional bee removal services

Why professional help matters:

Once bees establish inside a structure, they begin building comb, storing honey, and raising brood. DIY removal becomes:

Dangerous (defensive bees with resources to protect)
Incomplete (comb and honey remain, attracting pests)
Potentially damaging (improper removal damages structures)

Our bee hive relocation service addresses all aspects: safely removing bees, extracting honeycomb, cleaning the space, and relocating the colony to an appropriate new home.

Timing Matters

The sooner you address bees in structures, the easier removal becomes:

Day 1-7: Small comb, easy removal
Week 2-4: Moderate comb buildup
Month 2+: Extensive comb, thousands of bees, complex removal
6+ months: Major comb (potentially 40-100+ pounds), structural concerns

If you suspect bees have entered your home, don't wait. Contact us for an assessment.

Preventing Unwanted Swarms

While you can't stop bees from swarming in nature, you can make your property less attractive to scout bees:

Seal Entry Points

Scout bees look for protected cavities. Seal potential entry points:

Gaps around utility penetrations
Soffit and fascia openings
Cracks in exterior walls
Chimney gaps (use proper caps)
Tree cavities near structures

Remove Attractants

Previous bee activity attracts future swarms:

Old honeycomb should be completely removed
Beeswax residue attracts scouts
Pheromone traces persist for years
Professional removal includes proper cleanup

This is why thorough removal matters—incomplete cleanup invites future problems.

Monitor During Swarm Season

In Florida, peak swarm season runs roughly March through June. During this time:

Watch for increased bee activity around your home
Note any clustering behavior
Address issues quickly before colonies establish

The Importance of Bee Swarms

While swarms can be inconvenient, they serve essential ecological purposes:

Colony Reproduction

Swarming is how bee populations grow. Without swarming:

Bee populations couldn't expand
Genetic diversity would decrease
Colony health would suffer
Eventually, bee numbers would decline

Genetic Diversity

When swarms establish in new locations, they potentially mate with different drone populations, increasing genetic diversity. This diversity helps bees adapt to:

Local conditions
Disease pressures
Environmental changes

Natural Selection

Swarms that successfully establish demonstrate fitness. Natural selection favors colonies that:

Time swarming appropriately
Choose good nest sites
Have strong survival genetics

Ecosystem Support

More colonies mean more pollinators. Each successful swarm becomes a new pollination force, benefiting:

Local agriculture
Gardens and landscapes
Native plant reproduction
Overall ecosystem health

When a Colony of Bees Needs Relocation

At The Other Bee Guy, we specialize in giving bee colonies second chances. Here's when relocation makes sense:

Ideal Relocation Situations

Bees in walls, attics, or living spaces
Colonies in high-traffic areas
Hives posing risk to allergic individuals
Established colonies in structures

Our Relocation Process

When we relocate a bee colony:

Assessment: We evaluate colony size, location, and accessibility
Preparation: Proper equipment and safety measures
Queen location: Finding and protecting the queen is crucial
Colony transfer: Carefully moving bees to transport equipment
Comb removal: Extracting all honeycomb from the structure
Cleanup: Removing attractants that could draw future swarms
Transport: Moving the colony to its new home
Establishment: Ensuring the colony settles successfully

Learn more about our process or see what customers say on our reviews page.

What Happens to Relocated Colonies

The colonies we relocate go on to:

Produce delicious local honey
Pollinate Florida's crops and gardens
Support local beekeeping operations
Contribute to healthy bee populations

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a group of beehives called?

A group of beehives is called an apiary. The term comes from the Latin word "apis" (bee). An apiary can range from a few hives in a backyard to hundreds of hives in commercial operations.

Why do bees swarm in spring?

Bees swarm in spring because colonies are rapidly expanding after winter. Abundant spring flowers provide resources for population growth, and overcrowding triggers the swarming instinct. In Florida, swarm season typically runs March through June.

Are swarming bees dangerous?

Swarming bees are usually quite docile because they have no home or honey to defend. They're focused on finding a new nest site, not attacking. However, keeping distance is wise, and you should never disturb a swarm.

How long will a bee swarm stay?

Temporary swarm clusters typically stay for a few hours to a few days while scouts search for permanent homes. Once scouts agree on a location, the swarm departs—sometimes within hours, sometimes after 2-3 days.

Can I remove a bee swarm myself?

Temporary swarms on accessible branches can sometimes be collected by experienced individuals. However, established colonies in structures require professional removal. The risks (stings, incomplete removal, structural damage) make professional service worthwhile.

Why would bees swarm in fall?

Fall swarming is less common but can occur. Late-season swarms often struggle to survive winter because they haven't had time to build sufficient honey stores. These "desperation swarms" may result from colony stress or queen problems.

Understanding Bees Better

Now you know what do you call a group of beehives (an apiary), why do bees swarm (colony reproduction), and what to do when honey bees swarm (stay calm, contact professionals if needed). This knowledge helps you coexist with these essential pollinators while knowing when to seek help.

At The Other Bee Guy, we're passionate about bees—every colony of bees we relocate represents thousands of pollinators that will continue their vital work in a better location. Whether you're dealing with a swarm on your property or an established colony in your walls, we're here to help.

Explore our bee removal services, learn about bee hive relocation, or contact us with questions. And if you simply want to support healthy bee populations, check out our local honey—every jar comes from colonies we've given a second chance.

Bees are remarkable creatures. Understanding them makes coexistence easier for everyone.