MSBA can help if you have a honey bee swarm on your property, or have seen one elsewhere. Swarming is a part of bees’ natural reproductive cycle, in which the queen and a good portion of the worker population leave the hive to find a new home. They are relatively harmless, but can be an alarming sight.
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 do the removal. Please be sure to identify the insects before calling or filling out this form. We receive countless requests that turn out to be yellow jackets, especially in late summer/early fall. If you are not absolutely certain, please take a picture and email it to: swarm@mainebeekeepers.org
Our beekeeping volunteers DO NOT:
Remove honey bees from inside buildings or other structures*
Remove bumble bees, wasps or hornets
Exterminate any stinging insects
Once confirmed, you can fill in the form below and someone from the team will get back to you.
Please note that exterminators will not kill honey bees and usually refer homeowners to a local beekeeper. Our beekeepers may be contacted in regards to removing honey bee swarms. These members beekeepers are all acting privately, as a service to the public, and are not endorsed by the MSBA.
Filling in the form below is the best way to get a prompt response.
The State of Maine also maintains a list of individual who are willing to capture swarms. It can be found on the Maine State Apiary Program website.