A healthy honey bee hive usually holds somewhere between 10,000 and 60,000 bees, and the number changes a lot with the season. A colony is smallest in winter and early spring and largest in late spring and summer, when the queen is laying at her peak and flowers are plentiful.
Who makes up a colony
| Bee | How many | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Queen | 1 | Lays all the eggs, up to around 1,500 a day at peak |
| Workers (female) | Thousands to tens of thousands | Build comb, feed young, guard, forage, cool the hive |
| Drones (male) | A few hundred, mostly spring and summer | Mate with queens from other colonies |
How colony size changes through the year
- Late winter and early spring: the colony is at its smallest and starts building up as the first flowers bloom.
- Spring: the queen lays heavily, the population climbs fast, and crowded colonies swarm.
- Summer: peak population, often 40,000 to 60,000 bees in a strong hive.
- Fall: egg laying slows, drones are pushed out, and the colony shrinks.
In Southern California's mild climate, colonies stay active almost year-round, so the swings are smaller than in cold regions.
How many bees are in a swarm?
A swarm is part of a colony leaving to start a new home, usually with the old queen. Swarms typically contain around 10,000 to 15,000 bees, though large ones can be bigger. See whether a swarm will leave on its own.
How many bees are in a hive in a wall?
A colony that moved into a wall or roof a few weeks ago may have a few thousand bees and a few small combs. One that has been there for a year or more can fill an entire wall cavity with comb and hold tens of thousands of bees. That is why it pays to deal with a new hive early: the longer it stays, the bigger the colony and the more comb has to come out. Call or text (626) 487-6052 for a live hive removal.
Frequently asked questions
How many bees are in a hive?
Usually between about 10,000 and 60,000, depending on the season and the strength of the colony.
How many queen bees are in a hive?
Normally one. A colony may raise new queens before swarming or when replacing an old queen, but only one queen heads a colony.
How many bees are in a swarm?
Typically around 10,000 to 15,000 bees, with a queen.
How many eggs does a queen bee lay a day?
At peak season, up to around 1,500 eggs a day.
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