Frequently Asked Questions

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First, remove the stinger if it is still stuck in your skin. You can scrape the sting site with your fingernail or a credit card. The sooner the stinger is removed, the smaller will be the reaction. Then visit the University of Nebraska, Lincoln website, where you will find a comprehensive guide to the treatment of stings.

Your first step is to determine the type of bees.

HONEY BEES

If they are a swarm of honey bees that has clustered on a tree branch, on outdoor furniture, or landed on the side of your house, please contact beeswarmed.org OR call Bob Sitko at 651-436-7915.
 
If honey bees have taken up residence in a structure and you would like them removed, please contact Alex King at [email protected] OR Angie Johnson at [email protected]. Keep in mind that there is usually a fee associated with removals.
 

BUMBLE BEES

If they are bumble bees, they are generally docile and unlikely to sting, unless you are directly tampering with their nests. Unfortunately bumble bees usually don't survive nest relocation, so we encourage people to leave them where they are if at all possible. One option is to put up some sort of fencing or flagging around the area to give the bees a small buffer. Most bumble bees in gardens just need a bit of fencing around the area until they are done for the year. They will not come back to the same location next year (unless another queen discovers the site).

We have a federally protected bumble bee species in MN that is on the brink of extinction and it is vital that each nest is protected. Because of this protection it is important to know what species of bumble bee you have - please feel free to send a photo of individual bumblebees and/or nests to [email protected].

Bumble bee nests can be very challenging to find, so it's exciting when you get one near your home. It would be great if you could upload some photos and observation notes of this nest to BumbleBeeWatch.org. Under "Add a Sighting" there is the option to select "Nest Sighting" once you have entered your location information. Bumble bee nests are broadly under researched and there is a lot that researchers don't know about them. These kinds of observations can help us learn a lot about bumble bee nesting habitat and preferences.

Thank you for looking out for these important pollinators!

Check your local farmers market, or visit MinnesotaGrown. Here you will find a list of all the farmers markets in the state.

Here's a link to a Mead recipe.

There are many reasons colonies perish, but often the culprits are varroa mites. If you weren’t monitoring the varroa count, and keeping it at a normal level, this could be the cause. Consult one of our members, or Ask Buzz for more information.

It is not yet scientifically clear if any one parasite or disease causes the decline of honey bees. A number of factors can make bees more vulnerable and weaken their immune systems, factors such as starvation from lack of foraging on a diversity of healthy plants, pesticides, herbicides, monoculture, poor beekeeping practices and global climate change. Refer to the video Marla Spivak: Why Bees Are Disappearing for ideas on how you personally can help the bees.

Raising honey bees in Minnesota is a little complicated. It’s best to start by taking a class that covers raising bees in northern climates. Check out our Calendar for upcoming meetings and classes.

It’s best to leave them alone or call a beekeeper to retrieve it. Call Terry McDaniel at 612-483-4402. She keeps a list of MN beekeepers that be able to safely retrieve the swarm and give it a proper home. Bees collected and relocated in this way can then continue doing their good deeds of pollinating and making honey. We appreciate your help in protecting honey bee swarms.

When you call, be prepared to answer the following questions:

  1. How long has the swarm been there?
  2. Where are they located?
  3. What is your phone number?

Thanks for helping protect the fabulous honeybee.

Contact the swarm chaser chairman, Bob Sitko at 651-436-7915 or email him at: [email protected]

Yes. Educational outreach is part of the MHBA mission. To schedule an event, simply fill out this form or email our community outreach chair at [email protected], who will help locate a member to make a presentation.

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Take a look at our community events calendar for more info on how to add your event!

Community Events Calendar

Check out MN Beekeeper Groups for a list.

What beekeeping books are recommended?

We recommend two texts:

  • Beekeeping in Northern Climates by Marla Spivak
  • Beekeeping Hand Book by Diana Sammatero

Both books—and many more—are available in our MHBA lending library.