Early Swarms Hint at More Trouble for Honeybee

North America's bees are fleeing the hive early this year, and scientists say that's not good news. A new report from Swarmed, a network of more than 10,000 beekeepers, finds this year's swarm season began 17 days earlier than in 2025, following a winter of unusual warmth and a string of extreme US heatwaves. Swarming—when a queen leaves with roughly half the hive to start a new colony in response to overcrowding—is normal in spring, but the timing shift suggests bee reproduction is being altered by a warming climate, the Guardian reports.

The early activity—even observed at the White House, per Fox News—comes on the heels of the worst US honeybee die-off on record, with beekeepers losing more than 60% of colonies last year. That was a blow to an agriculture sector that depends on pollination worth an estimated $15 billion in added crop value. Experts say shorter, warmer winters are allowing bees to raise brood almost year-round, which not only advances swarms but may fuel explosive growth of the varroa mite, a parasite that feeds on honeybees and is increasingly resistant to treatments. The squeeze adds to pressure on already struggling wild bees and could force major changes in how beekeepers manage swarms.