Swarm lists by state
Massachusetts
Massachusetts has an active statewide beekeeping network plus county clubs that residents use for bee schools, swarm help, and local contacts. The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) runs the state Apiary Program, and UMass Amherst maintains a practical swarm-removal page that points residents to county-level help.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- Swarm or bee removal list
- Official page →
- State beekeepers association
- Massachusetts Beekeepers Association
- Typical swarm season
- May to June
- Africanized honey bees
- not established
Official resources in Massachusetts
State program page for apiary registration, inspection requests, shipment notification, MAPL, and honey bee program updates.
Official FAQ covering permits, local rules, voluntary registration, inspections, and where Massachusetts residents should seek swarm help.
Land-grant university page explaining how to identify a honey bee swarm and where to find county swarm-removal lists.
Official statewide association page listing county and regional bee clubs that residents can contact for bee schools and bee removal.
Official form and instructions for notifying MDAR before importing bees or used equipment into Massachusetts.
Key facts for Massachusetts
- MDAR Honey Bee FAQ: Massachusetts does not require a state permit to keep honey bees, though towns or cities may have local requirements.
- MDAR Honey Bee FAQ: Apiary and colony registration is voluntary through MDAR.
- MDAR Honey Bee FAQ: Inspection requests can be made any time, with at least 30 days' advance notice preferred.
- MDAR transport FAQ: Imported colonies, nucs, packages, or used equipment must be reported to MDAR at least two business days before entry.
- UMass Swarm Removal: In Massachusetts, honey bee swarming occurs in spring and early summer.
- MDAR 2022 annual report: One Massachusetts sample investigated for suspected Africanized honey bees tested negative.
What to do next
- If you see a cluster hanging outside, first compare it with the UMass swarm-identification page before calling anyone.
- Use the Mass Bee county-club list or the UMass swarm page to find the closest local swarm contact; Hampshire County residents are directed to Franklin or Hampden lists.
- If bees are already inside a wall, roof, or other structure, tell the local beekeeper it is an established colony, not a swarm.
Helpful guides
- What to do when you see a honey bee swarm
- A swarm vs. an established hive: why it matters
- Honey bees, wasps or yellowjackets? How to tell
- Bee cutout and hive removal cost