Swarm Catchers
Honey bees clustered on a branch, a fence or a wall are looking for a new home. A beekeeper will move them somewhere safe.
Don’t panic — and don’t call an exterminator
It’s that time of the year folks, Swarm Season. You might start hearing about or seeing pictures of bee swarms on social media. There is even a chance you could encounter one yourself! The first thing we recommend is DON’T PANIC!
Bees that are swarming typically have more important things to worry about than you, and as long as they are not threatened will not retaliate. Contact anyone you know who is experienced with safely removing bees that will ensure they have a good home to move to.
DO NOT CALL AN EXTERMINATOR! Call us at 417-319-1539 or contact one of our members in your area below.
Before you call
- Keep children and pets away, but leave the bees alone — a swarm has no home to defend and is usually calm.
- Take a photo. It helps the beekeeper bring the right equipment.
- Note how high off the ground the cluster is and what it is hanging on.
- Call more than one person on the list. Swarms can move on within a few hours.
- Ask about cost up front. Collecting a swarm from a branch is normally free; cutting bees out of a wall, roof or chimney is skilled work and is usually charged for.
Current list
Members who collect swarms
Search by name or area, or narrow the list to your county. Phone numbers and email addresses are live links — tap to call from a phone.
| Beekeeper | Phone | Area covered | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mark/Amanda Amorose | 417-861-0206 417-849-4776 | mwamorose@yahoo.com | Area not listed — please call |
| Shelly Anderson | 417-693-0841 | mleanderson13@gmail.com | Greene County and surrounding |
| Bruce Earnhart | 417-299-5501 | Bruce.earnhart2016@gmail.com | Springfield, western Webster, northern Christian, southern Greene |
| Robert Flinbauch | 417-742-9466 | fbdesignz@gmail.com | Greene County |
| Alex Keller | 417-818-5000 | alexkeller88888@gmail.com | Greene County |
| Marty Little | 417-840-2645 | coachlittle.5@gmail.com | Greene, Christian, Stone and Taney counties |
| Jeff Maddox | 317-698-8088 | — | Webster and Greene counties — also removes colonies from houses and trees |
| Kim Murphy | 417-824-7429 | murphysbees21@gmail.com | Christian County and south-west Greene County |
| Valorie Nichols | 417-844-8225 | beecharmer1@msn.com | Greene County |
| Robert Nothum | 417-860-4427 | rmnothum@gmail.com | Greene and Webster counties |
| Wem Oaks | 417-204-9033 | oaks@kw.com | Christian County |
| Ben Quisenberry | 417-733-0061 | benquisenberry13@gmail.com | Christian, Greene, Webster, Taney, Stone and beyond |
| Richard Rust | 417-818-5429 | richardbelindar@yahoo.com | Webster County |
| Barbara Schilling | 435-531-1803 | summersun_54@yahoo.com | South-west Missouri |
| Ivan Smith | 334-544-9249 | rhinolee.is@gmail.com | Greene County |
| Jeff Spicer | 417-824-9893 | jeffspicer1966@gmail.com | Christian and Greene counties |
| Jonathan Stenger | 573-795-6596 | jstenger03@hotmail.com | Christian and Greene counties |
| Jarrah Strobach | 417-294-7184 | jarrah.strobach@gmail.com | Christian County and Springfield |
| Marc Swinson | 417-693-2920 | marc.swinson@gmail.com | Stone County |
| Elizabeth Turner | 417-861-4052 | uppabeth@gmail.com | Greene County |
| Greg Wolf | 417-429-5600 | gwolfjwolf@gmail.com | Greene County |
No swarm catchers match that search. Try a nearby county, or call the club line at 417-319-1539.
Are you a member who would like to be added, or do your details need changing? Email reqinfo@ozarksbeekeepers.org.
Swarm or colony?
Which one do you have?
A swarm
A ball or beard of bees hanging in the open — on a branch, fence post, mailbox or car. It appeared suddenly and there is no comb. This is a colony in transit, and it is the easy case: a beekeeper can usually collect it in a few minutes, at no charge.
An established colony
Bees flying in and out of a hole in a wall, soffit, tree or chimney, day after day, in the same place for weeks. There is comb and honey inside. Removing these bees means opening the structure, and it is specialist work that is normally charged for. Discuss the terms with the beekeeper before any work starts.