Honeybee Swarms are curious, not furious!
If you find a swarm of honeybees on your turf and don’t want it there, members of CCBA are willing to remove the swarm. Time is of the essence. Once the swarm has entered its new home, removal of the honeybees is much more difficult and may involve opening the wall of a house to get to the bee colony. This is generally beyond the capability of most beekeepers, so contact one of them while the bees are still clustered in a swarm outside.
The following beekeepers (listed in no particular order other than location) want to capture swarms of honeybees:
Southern & Western Chester County
Don Stockley 302-528-7397 sweet16apiary@gmail.com
Jerrie Gontarz 610-593-1949
Bill Stefanosky 484-574-0128 wstefanosky@msn.com
Keith Jardine 610-809-0955
Walt Broughton 610-384-2384
Beth Tumas 302-584-8386
Carmen Battavio 610-331-6279
Jack McMichael 484-680-0876 jmcmich552@aol.com
John Federoff 610-283-0227 jfederoff@msn.com
Carol Stanley 610-563-7611
Tim Ferris 484-678-8569 tim@extractandbox.com
Northern Chester County
Frank Ruthkosky ExtonBeeCompany@aol.com
Howard Frysinger 610-858-4859 hfrysinger@gmail.com
Jack McMichael 484-680-0876 jmcmich552@aol.com
Tom Frederick 610-384-3066
Tim Ferris 484-678-8569 tim@extractandbox.com
Chris Eckert 610-858-6737 Christophermeckert@gmail.com
Justin Shiffler 484-752-2527 jnjshiffler@yahoo.com
Carmen Battavio 610-331-6279
Keith Jardine 610-809-0955
Janet Owens 484-614-9435
Ed Sharp 443-309-4006 edsharp1975@gmail.com
Tara Cannon (Kimberton) 215-479-1241
Central Chester County
Ann Svelling 610-732-7057
Keith Jardine 610-809-0955
Howard Frysinger 610-858-4859 hfrysinger@gmail.com
Tim Ferris 484-678-8569 tim@extractandbox.com
Walt Talunas 610-247-1133
Chris Eckert 610-858-6737 Christophermeckert@gmail.com
Jack McMichael 484-680-0876 jmcmich552@aol.com
Tom Frederick 610-384-3066
Carmen Battavio 610-331-6279
Justin Shiffler 484-752-2527 jnjshiffler@yahoo.com
Nancy Magness 302-383-6965 West Chester Borough
Main Line & Delaware County
Tim Ferris 484-678-8569 tim@extractandbox.com
Keith Jardine 610-809-0955
Carmen Battavio 610-331-6279
James Castellan 610-565-9845
Bill Downs 610-446-2758
Tina Freels M-215-280-0007; H-610-449-7273
Don Stockley 302-528-7397 sweet16apiary@gmail.com
Susan Howatt 610-724-9031
Jack McMichael 484-680-0876 jmcmich552@aol.com
Tom McKinney. 610-800-2232. Tmckinney672002@yahoo.com
Christopher Walker 610-945-6366 chris.walker43@verizon.net Wasps
More about swarming bees… A honeybee cannot live alone but depends on the colony for survival. To propagate the species, a swarm (about half the colony and the queen) moves to a new home. The other half of the colony remains in the hive and raises a new queen. In southeastern Pennsylvania, most swarms emerge in April, May, and June. After exiting from their former home (hive), the swarm may settle on a tree branch, a bush, or the side of a building. The swarm normally forms a football-shaped cluster of bees that may be up to three feet long. The swarm sends out scout bees to look for a new home in a hollow tree or in the eaves of a building. When a suitable spot is found, the scout bees direct the swarm to it. The bees then construct a new honeycomb nest with wax they produce themselves, begin to gather nectar and pollen for food, and raise young. Honeybees are a valuable part of nature because they pollinate crops, produce honey, beeswax, and pollen, and their stings are widely accepted as an aid in the treatment of arthritis. So, as you observe them swarming, contemplate this marvelous phenomenon and call a beekeeper to remove the swarm and put it to beneficial use.
To be ADDED or REMOVED from this list, please contact us at: news@chescobees.org
The Chester County Beekeepers Association takes no responsibility for the services provided by its members. This information is provided only as a public service.