AZ experts say bee swarms at record levels this year (Phoenix: housing, company)

[Greatday]

Winter rains brought a wealth of blooms to Arizona deserts, and bee experts say they expect a record year for bee swarms as a result.

Bee removal specialists in Tucson say they've never seen the amount of activity as they have this spring and are going call-to-call as new colonies set up housing in homes and outbuildings.

azcentral.com | Phoenix Arizona News - Arizona Local News

[LordBalfor]

Our bees are vanishing up here in the PNW. It's a large die-off from a fungus (I think). Also, with the cold weather we're having, the remaining bees are not out pollinating.

Could be a bad year for Washington State fruit harvests.

Ken

[Ponderosa]

I'm no bee expert, but I agree. I have never seen so many bees around in my many years here. They are everywhere, on anything that blooms. Hopefully, the bee shortage is temporary in WA. I do look forward to those cherries each year.

[esselcue]

The bees are out and about up here in Chino valley, pollinating my apple trees quite merrilly! Never have had a swarm...but I know several folks who have. Ground hornets are more treacherous in my neck of the woods.

[MichaelinWA]

Like Ken said, disappearing bees are a problem in the PNW.

"Major disaster" for bees may jeopardize Washington state's crops

But so-called Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) is a national (e.g., California) and even worldwide worry. Most of the news reports have been about big losses among domesticated hives, but wild bees have also been affected, based on what I've read.

Interesting to read about the AZ phenomenon. There, you have the additional aspect of Africanization.

[Valley Native]

With the increase in bee swarms, the best advice is: BEE careful! (Pardon the pun.) Africanized bee colonies are common during the spring ... and they can nest anywhere, including sheds, fences, drainpipes, and even your attic.

If you see several bees swarming around a particular area, chances are there's a nest of them nearby. Never swat at them or use insect killer. That will just stir them up and cause them to attack. Call a bee removal company. It can be costly depending on where the nest is, and if the bee remover has to drill through a block wall ... but it's better than combatting the problem yourself & being attacked. The bee remover will dress in protective clothing and put a substance in the nest to get rid of the queen. You will see a massive swarm of bees after he does this ... and that means that the hive has been destroyed.

[Route_66_traveler]

Well where I live, we haven't seen any bees yet. Course I am in the white mountains, where it hasn't really gotten warm yet.