A group of bees is commonly referred to as a colony or a swarm. The term colony is used to describe a group of bees living together in a hive, which includes worker bees, drones, and a queen. The colony works together to maintain the hive, gather food, and care for the young.
On the other hand, a swarm refers to a large group of bees that have left their original hive to find a new location. Swarming usually occurs when the colony becomes too large for the hive, and a new queen is produced. The swarm will temporarily cluster together, often on a tree branch, while scout bees search for a suitable new home.
Both terms, colony and swarm, are used to describe groups of bees, but they refer to different situations and behaviors within the bee community.