Melissophobia (or Apiphobia): Fear of bees

Do you have a honey bee swarm in your yard? A beekeeper near you can help you and help the bees.

Simply killing the bees that are in your home or other structure does not eliminate the problem. Along with several pounds of dead and rotting bees remaining in your structure, you will still have considerable wax, honey, and brood in in the structure that will attract mice, ants, foul odor, and physical damage. See this video and this video for a short warning on simply spraying bees that are in your home or other structure.

What Everyone Needs to Know About Bee Stings

To find a beekeeper who will safely remove the swarm -- usually at no charge to you -- go to

• Honey Bee Allies, or

• Bee Removal Source, or

• Swarm Patrol, or

• Honey Bee Swarm Removal, or

• Swarms in Utah County, or

• Swarms in Salt Lake County, or

• Contact your local beekeeper's club, or

• Call your County Bee Inspector or

• Call your County Extension Service.

• In an emergency, call 911.

Please be prepared to the following information to help the beekeeper.

• What does the swarm look like? (If the swarm has a grey "papery" looking "nest" then it is not honey bees but more likely hornets or wasps.)

• Location of the swarm (physical address).

• Your name and phone number.

• What has the swarm landed on?

• How high up is the swarm?

• Are there any special concerns in the area (children, water hazards, bees in the house, etc.)?

Your beekeeper might also be able to remove an unwanted colony of honey bees that has become established in a hollow tree or in your home or other structure. If he or she needs to open up your structure in any way, they'll need you to sign an agreement that clarifies the work they need to do and any restoration work they will not do. Since removal of honey bees from a structure often requires a lot of time and effort, there may be a charge for this service. Call one of us beekeepers and we'll let you know how or if we can help.

Many people mistake honey bees with other similar insects such as wasps, hornets, and yellow jackets. We can only help you with honey bees. If you aren't sure which insect you have check the image below or this more detailed explanation. If you still don't know, call. We'll help you identify the insect and what to do about it.

Click here and here for more info on identification of bees and wasps.

• Honey Bee Allies

• Bee Removal Source,

• Swarm Patrol, and/or

• Honey Bee Swarm Removal.