Of course, with stinging insects, it is not always easy to get close!  The type of structure or nest that you see, or even the absence of a nest, can help, as well.  A honey bee swarm, which is a half a colony of honey bees which outgrew its home and divided itself to go find a new home, will not be in a nest at all. 

A swarm of honey bees looks like this:

These swarms are in transition.  Scout bees are actively out and looking for a new home, and once they find one, they will leave to go settle in.  Swarms are most frequent in the spring, and here in the Northeast we have a smaller secondary swarm season in late summer/early autumn.  I am always happy to come and rehome these swarms, so if you see one of these, always feel free to reach out.  The natural survival rate of swarms is quite low.  

When honey bees are in a settled colony, their nest is most always inside of an existing structure, such as a tree.  You will not generally see a nest.  You will simply see the bees coming in and out of the structure.   

In contrast, one of the easiest ways to know that you are NOT dealing with honeybees is the presence of a visible nest.   These nests are associated with yellow jackets and/or a variety of other wasps.  Here are some examples: 

In these cases, you definitely do not have honey bees.  I will always recommend that you exterminate these, and this is not a service I provide.  

In the end, I am always happy to come and help out with the safe relocation of honey bee swarms, or established colonies in accessible areas.  If, after taking a look at the above information, you feel you need help with honey bees, please feel free to reach out.  

Happy Bee Season!