Swarm lists by state
Minnesota
Minnesota residents have a strong honey-bee support network through the University of Minnesota Bee Lab/Extension and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. For swarm help, UMN Extension points residents to a live-removal network, while the state’s current apiary role is mainly inspection for interstate movement and pesticide-related investigations.
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
- Minnesota Beekeepers Association
- Typical swarm season
- May to June
- Africanized honey bees
- not established
Official resources in Minnesota
Official MDA page for Minnesota’s apiary inspection program, including inspection requests and related apiary resources.
Official UMN Extension guide that explains swarms in Minnesota and directs residents to bee-friendly swarm/colony removal.
Official UMN Bee Lab page for identifying whether you have honey bees or wasps and for submitting a swarm-removal request.
Official statewide beekeeper association site for Minnesota, including current association information and member support.
Key facts for Minnesota
- MDA provides apiary inspections for Minnesota beekeepers who transport bees to other states.
- License Minnesota lists apiary inspections at $50 per hour plus mileage, plus a $25 certificate fee.
- UMN Extension says honey bee swarming in Minnesota typically occurs in late spring and early summer.
- UMN Extension directs Minnesota residents needing honey-bee swarm or colony removal to beeswarmed.org.
- MDA says Minnesota has participated in the national Honey Bee Survey since 2011.
- Minnesota Beekeepers Association says members voted in 2025 to return to its historical name.
What to do next
- If bees are clustered outdoors, keep people back and use live removal through the UMN-linked swarm network instead of spraying.
- If you keep bees and plan to move colonies across state lines, request an MDA apiary inspection before shipment.
- Use UMN Bee Lab/Extension guidance and connect with the statewide association for Minnesota-specific cold-climate beekeeping help.
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