Honeybees tend to swarm around this time of year. Swarming is the reproduction of a honey bee colony. It is a normal and natural phenomenon, and rarely poses a danger to people or animals. When honey bees have good weather and plenty of food, their populations can increase dramatically.
When a colony becomes crowded inside their current home (a bee hive, hollow tree, or other cavity) they will begin to raise a new queen bee. When this new queen is almost mature, the old queen will leave the hive, followed by about one half or two-thirds of the worker bees and some of the drones. This queen bee will land nearby, on a tree, shrub, fence post or even a building.
While the sudden appearance of a large number of honey bees may appear frightening to some people, they are usually quite harmless. Because they do not have any brood or honey to protect, a new swarm is usually very gentle in temperament and they rarely sting. Unless the swarm poses a specific threat or inconvenience to people, they can be left alone and admired from a distance. The bees will likely remain for only a few days at most, and then suddenly fly away to establish their new home.
A swarm of bees can often be easily moved. If the queen bee can be collected, most of the other bees will follow her into a new hive. If you have a honey bee swarm on your property and would like to have it removed, OSU Extension Clermont County maintains a swarm list of beekeepers in and around the tristate area that may be able to assist you. Contact the office at 513-732-7070 for a list of beekeepers in your area.