New York City is home to more than 200 species of bees. Bees are pollinators and play an important role in the ecological health of New York City
Most bees in New York City are harmless and will not sting you unless you disturb them.
Beehives or nests are often located:
Bees are usually less dangerous than wasps or hornets, which are more aggressive and — unlike bees — can sting you multiple times without dying.
Avoiding Stings
Bees are usually peaceful insects and only sting when they are threatened. Bees can only sting once because their stingers get stuck in human skin, causing the bee to die.
To avoid bee stings:
Treating Stings
Bee stings are painful but can be easily treated. Some people may have a severe allergic reaction to bee stings, called anaphylaxis, which can be life-threating.
If you are stung by a bee:
Contact a health care provider if you:
If you are allergic to bee stings you may need to carry around medicine to prevent a severe reaction. Speak to your provider if you are concerned about a bee sting allergy.
Removing a Hive
A hive or nest does not need to be removed unless it is a direct threat to people. Hives that are a threat should be removed by a certified exterminator.
Property owners must remove nuisance bees or wasps from their property if they pose a threat to human health.
Each species of bees and wasps needs to be managed differently; learning to tell the difference will help you keep your property safe.
Swarms
A colony of thousands of bees may form a swarm when it is time to leave their hive and form a new one. The swarm may land on a stationary object. Though bee swarms are not usually aggressive, they should only be removed by professional beekeepers.
If you see a bee swarm, call 911.
Beekeeping in NYC
It is legal to keep honeybee hives in the city. Beekeepers must register their hives and follow New York City health codes (PDF).
Beekeeping requirements:
Beekeepers should be able to respond immediately to control bee swarms and to remediate nuisance conditions. A beekeeping nuisance means conditions including, but not limited to:
Recent research has shown that honeybees may compete with native bee populations for resources. Having a diverse bee population is important for the city’s ecological health. Support local pollinators by planting native plants and reducing the use of pesticides on your property.