Spring is finally here. Spring is the time that honeybees swarm. Art should know. He's one of several beekeepers in Hampton Roads and has been president of the Tidewater Beekeepers Association, president of the state beekeepers association and has been Beekeeper of the Year by Virginia's and North Carolina's beekeepers. Worker bees survive the winter, feeding on the honey and pollen they store.
Honeybees swarm because they have outgrown the space of their winter home, says Art.
The old queen and workers fly away to establish a new colony. Sighting a honeybee swarm is unusual but not rare in Tidewater. Approximately 250 to 300 are reported to local authorities and beekeepers yearly. If you see a swarm, stay calm. Bees in a new or fresh swarm are normally gentle, says Art.