• 3 min de lectura
• 3 min de lectura
With the onset of spring and rising temperatures, conditions become favorable for the development of bee colonies. When a hive reaches a certain size, its natural division occurs: a group of bees—with the necessary honey reserves to sustain themselves while settling—leaves the original location with the queen to form a new colony.
This phenomenon is known as swarming and manifests as a cloud of insects that flies until it settles in a specific place, be it a tree, a wall, or any other surface. The swarming period can extend from a few hours to even two or three days, while scout bees search for a definitive location.
In this context, the National Agri-Food Health and Quality Service (SENASA) provides a series of guidelines on how to act when swarms form in urban and peri-urban areas. Although their appearance may cause alarm, swarms usually have docile behavior, since when leaving the hive, the bees have sufficient honey reserves, so the real risk to people and/or pets is low.
However, upon observing a swarm in public spaces, rural areas, or private homes, it is recommended not to approach or try to scare them away, nor to manipulate or remove the swarm on your own. Instead, the first thing to do is to contact the provincial beekeeping administrations or the SENASA National Apicultural Health Program, to facilitate contact with rescue beekeepers.
Likewise, several jurisdictions have their own registries of rescuers who operate in urban and suburban areas, so it is recommended to consult the municipality or local jurisdiction. You can also resort to beekeeping associations or groups, which in many cases actively collaborate in these rescues. If no response is obtained through any of these channels, contact the fire department or civil defense.
It should be noted that, according to Resolution N.° 302/2016, our country maintains a health alert for the small hive beetle (SHB), due to the epidemiological risk posed by its presence in neighboring countries such as Brazil, Bolivia, or Paraguay.
Given this situation, it is reminded that when manipulating or removing the swarm, beekeepers must take the necessary sanitary precautions and verify that no specimens of the SHB are registered, as the beetles can travel long distances and accompany the swarm in its flight until finally settling somewhere.
In case of any suspicion, they must immediately notify SENASA via WhatsApp at (11) 5700–5704; by email to notificaciones@senasa.gob.ar; through the web form "Avisá al Senasa"; in person or by phone at the nearest office of the organization; or by using form N.° 6.144 for SHB Suspicion, available in the SIG APP Forms application. For general inquiries about swarms, contact apicultura@senasa.gob.ar.
