AUSTINTOWN, Ohio - If you've driven down Mahoning Avenue in Austintown near Advance Auto Parts this Memorial Day, chances are you've seen a large swarm of bees gathered at a tree. A local beekeeper explained to 21 News what all the buzz is about.

A viewer reached out to 21 News telling us she saw the swarm near Advance Auto Parts and Handel's Ice Cream.

Columbiana & Mahoning County Beekeeper Association President, Bruce Deafenbaugh tells 21 News this is a completely normal part of nature involving a new queen taking over the hive.

Deafenbaugh tells us that queen bees live for about two to three years and in order for the species to survive, a new queen must take over the nest.

According to Deafenbaugh, the queen only takes two flights in her lifetime. The first one is the mating flight, and the second one is the swarming flight. 

During the swarming flight, the queen may need time to rest before regaining the strength to fly again. That's when sights like the one pictured above can happen.

Deafenbaugh says if you see this in your community, you're asked to call a local beekeeper to handle the situation. To find out which beekeeper in Mahoning and Columbiana County serves your area, click here.

21 News has confirmed that a local beekeeper is at the scene handling the bees.