Found a honey bee swarm?

Stay calm: a swarm is looking for a new home and is usually peaceful because it has no comb to defend. Keep a few metres away, do not catch it yourself and do not spray anything on it. Contact your local beekeeping association, swarm rescue or, if people are in danger, the fire service.

Report the swarm here. Swarm catchers in your area are notified; if there are none, we show you the nearest contacts right away.

Report a swarmBee, wasp or hornet?
Drawing

Key facts

Often brief
A swarm often moves on within a short time (municipality of Bolligen, 2025). [1]

Four steps until help arrives

  1. Keep your distance

    Keep children and pets away and close nearby windows.

  2. Leave it alone

    No water, sprays or smoke. Leave the swarm undisturbed.

  3. Take a photo

    From a safe distance, including a branch or wall for context.

  4. Contact someone

    Tell the association or swarm rescue the location and height. Let them know if the swarm moves on.

Is it really a honey bee swarm?

Many reports turn out to be wasps. Three pictures help you tell them apart; swarm catchers only collect honey bees.

  • A large bee swarm hangs as a dense oval cluster from a branch of a blooming cherry tree with white blossoms in spring light.

    A cluster of thousands of bees

    A honey bee swarm. Keep your distance and get in touch with the contacts below.

    Report a swarm

  • A ball of grey paper with an entrance hole

    A wasp or hornet nest. Swarm catchers do not deal with these.

    Not a case for swarm catchers

  • A furry bumblebee with yellow bands on a leaf.
    Photo: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped

    Plump, furry single insects at a hole

    Usually bumblebees. Leave them alone.

    Not a case for swarm catchers

Where to find help

  1. 1. Your local beekeeping association

    Use your local association’s swarm phone line if it offers one.

  2. 2. Mellifera swarm rescue

    Swarm rescue can be contacted without registering.

    schwarmrettung.de

  3. 3. Fire service when people are in danger

    If the swarm endangers people, for example at an entrance or school.

    Call 112

There is no guarantee that someone will come.

Questions about honey bee swarms

How long will a swarm stay?

Often not long: a swarm frequently moves on within a short time (municipality of Bolligen). There is no reliable duration.

What if nobody comes?

Try the next contact: local association, swarm rescue, fire service if people are in danger.

Do swarm collectors help with wasps or hornets?

Swarm collectors only collect honey bees. See the identification guide for other contacts.

Sources

  1. Municipality of Bolligen: swarm collection factsheet, May 2025; accessed 23 October 2026.
  2. Mellifera e. V.: swarm rescue; accessed 23 October 2026.

Canvas source status: 23 October 2026. Expert review: reviewer and review date still pending.