Spring is here and one familiar sound for beekeepers is the buzz of honey bees.

Those Missouri honey bees smell the sweet flowers and are in the air. On occasion, people may see a cloud of honey bees in the air or clumped together on a tree branch. That is a healthy swarm of honey bees moving on to find a new home, according to a press release. <n> Swarms are produced due to crowding. In most places, swarming happens from late spring to early summer. However, swarming can happen at other times of the year depending on the weather conditions and the bee species.

They may stay in place for anywhere between 15 minutes to several days as it depends on how long the scout bees take to find a new home for the colony.

For those concerned about swarming honey bees, the Missouri State Beekeepers Association has several beekeepers all over the state to help out.

The website is www.mobees.org/swarm-catcher-list where you can find over 150 beekeepers that are willing to grab those swarms. If there are no individuals listed a specific area, check out the local clubs at mobees.org map.

Oftentimes local beekeeping clubs have their own swarm catcher list.

For questions about bees and swarms, contact Ray Shadow, president, Missouri State Beekeepers Association at president@mostatebeekeepers.org.