Swarm lists by state
New Mexico
New Mexico’s apiary oversight sits with the New Mexico Department of Agriculture at NMSU, while practical local help largely runs through the New Mexico Beekeepers Association and regional clubs. New Mexico also has established Africanized honey bees, so residents should treat swarms and feral colonies cautiously and use beekeeper or removal contacts rather than spraying them.
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
- New Mexico Beekeepers Association
- Typical swarm season
- April to June
- Africanized honey bees
- established
Official resources in New Mexico
Official NMDA page for commercial honey bee colony registration and statewide apiary regulatory activities.
Official NMDA page linking New Mexico’s Bee Act and the Commercial Apiaries rule.
Official statewide beekeepers association with education, events, and connections to local groups.
Official association FAQ with swarm guidance, the ABQ/Santa Fe swarm hotline, and verified local clubs for 2025.
NMSU extension guide covering honey bees in New Mexico, including Africanized honey bees and swarming behavior.
Key facts for New Mexico
- NMDA’s Entomology & Nursery Industries section handles commercial honey bee colony registration and other apiary regulatory activities statewide. [NMDA Apiaries]
- New Mexico’s commercial apiary rule applies at 15+ colonies north of I-40 and 25+ colonies south of I-40. [NMAC 21.27.2]
- Commercial apiaries must be registered annually by November 1, or before establishing a new commercial apiary. [NMAC 21.27.2]
- Africanized honey bees were first documented in New Mexico in Hidalgo County in October 1993. [NMSU Honey Bees in New Mexico]
- By 2009, Africanized honey bees had infested virtually all New Mexico counties north to I-40 and Santa Fe County. [NMSU Honey Bees in New Mexico]
- NMSU says healthy European honey bee colonies in New Mexico tend to swarm in spring when nectar and pollen are readily available. [NMSU Honey Bees in New Mexico]
What to do next
- If you find a swarm, keep people and pets back, do not spray it, and use the NMBKA FAQ or a local club swarm page to request help.
- If bees are entering a wall, shed, or other cavity, treat it as an established colony rather than a simple swarm and seek bee-removal help.
- If you keep bees commercially or plan to move colonies into New Mexico, review NMDA’s Apiaries page and the Commercial Apiaries rule before placement.
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