What To Do If You See A Big Ball Of Bees In Your Home Or Yard

Bees are vital to the ecosystem, but as important as they are for pollinating plants and making delicious honey, it can be startling to suddenly discover a nest of them in your yard. Even more alarming is finding a swarming ball of these flying insects somewhere on your property, which can seem potentially dangerous. You might be tempted to reach for a pesticide spray to kill the bees or try to remove the ball yourself, but don't! The best thing to do when you see a ball of dangerous bees in your yard is to keep your distance and leave it alone.

This behavior, known as "queen balling," is perfectly normal. Bees typically do this when they're killing a queen (either an invasive queen from another colony or their own queen who's no longer laying eggs). Balling bees don't usually pose a threat unless you disturb them. However, if you find a bee ball somewhere that's inconvenient or difficult to avoid, contact a professional beekeeper to remove the bees safely instead of trying to deal with it yourself.

Queen balling is natural bee behavior, typically involving around 15 to 50 bees. However, you might find a cluster of bees in your yard for other reasons. Asian honeybees can ball up to attack and kill predators, such as hornets (American and European honeybees don't do this). Bees may also gather (or form a swarm) in your yard when moving from one location to another, breaking off from a larger colony to form a new one, or searching for a safe nesting spot.

In any of these cases, the best thing to do when you find a ball or swarm of bees in your yard is to wait for them to leave. The bees should soon disperse. Even if they're looking for a new nesting spot, bees prefer enclosed areas, so they're not likely to stay and build their nest in the open. Just as important is knowing what not to do. First, don't try to handle, remove, or kill the bees. This includes spraying them with pesticides or water. Disturbing the ball will likely trigger the insects' defensive response and is a good way to get stung.

Furthermore, bees are essential members of the ecosystem. It's always best not to kill them if you can avoid it. If you really need a ball or swarm of bees removed from your property and can't wait it out, contact a beekeeper. These professionals have the necessary skills and equipment to handle and relocate bees safely. You could also consider adding a honeybee house to your garden to invite these helpful little pollinators to your lawn. The bees (and your flowers) will thank you.