What is a Bee Swarm?
Bees have to reproduce as it's their natural way for survival and the result is called a Swarm! Swarms can basically land anywhere from the fence posts to letterboxes but more commonly on tree branches. Prior to leaving the parent hive, the bees gorge themselves on honey in anticipation of finding a new home. They need the stores to survive during the transition.
When they land, they form a cluster temporarily in one area and can stay there from a few hours to a several days before moving to a new location.
During this period the scout bees are busily sourcing a new location to set up the new home and several factors are required for the swarm to agree to move on.
As a general rule, swarms are not aggressive as they are not protecting their home - they are looking for a new one. Also they have full stomachs of honey which makes it harder for them to wrap around their abdomen to sting. As I mentioned, this is only a generalisation as I have personally experienced some extremely aggressive swarms so don't be fooled thinking it is safe.
We recommend you ensure children and animals are kept well away from them and do not interfere with the Swarm as it makes it more difficult for removal and it can also aggravate them. thanks
If you do find a swarm, please call a beekeeper or a beekeeping club. You can also log your find at www.swarmpatrol.com and the closest beekeeper to you will be alerted to help.
The beekeepers help relocate them in a suitable home and the honeybees are therefore saved from being destroyed.
Some swarm collectors do charge a fee, this is generally to cover the costs of the equipment they need to house them and maybe petrol for travel. So always check what they charge before they arrive to save any uncomfortable conversation once the job has been finished. Or you could offer them a donation for their time and help.
Is its a swarm or a feral colony?
A Feral colony is when the bees have been in the same location for long while and have made honeycomb in a random place. This is then regarded as a feral colony and not a bee swarm.
This is a picture of a huge feral colony that has been there for sometime and they've made this location their home. The bees will be more defensive on protecting their nest so keep a good distance and dont disturb them.
This type of removal is difficult and takes a time to safely re-home the bees. Not all beekeepers are equipped to safely remove feral colonies so ask the beekeepers if he/she removes feral colonies before they turn up at your property.
Cost for remove is higher than swarm removal. It is far better to call a Beekeeper/Apiarist than a Pest Controller - so help save the bees and have them re-homed by someone who cares about our food chain and our future. Many thanks
Is its a bee or a wasp?
Another thing to ensure if you haven't mistaken a wasp nest for a swarm. European wasps are generally shiny and brightywllo with distinctive glack and yellow abdomens. If you have wasps most beekeepers wont be able to help and you will then need a pest controller.
A Feral colony is when the bees have made comb in a random place as they didn't find a suitable cavity to move into. This is a picture of a huge feral colony in possum boxes in a tree. Please note that this type of removal is difficult and takes time. So check with the beekeepers if he/she removes feral colonies before they turn up at your property.
Cost for remove is higher than swarm removal. It is far better to call a Beekeeper/Apiarist than a Pest Controller - so help save the bees and have them re-homed by someone who cares about our food chain and our future. Many thanks
It is far better to call a Beekeeper/Apiarist than a Pest Controller to remove bee swarms to help save the bees and have them re-homed by someone who cares about our food chain and our future. Many thanks