Swarms and Feral Hives

Spring is typically the time that honey bees swarm. Swarming is a natural element of hive behaviour and is an attempt to expand the colony by rehousing the "old" queen and some of the workers, to create room for a new queen. Beekeepers manage their hives to reduce this swarming behaviour but sometimes swarming is unstoppable.  And there are many swarms generated from wild  hives too, so the swarm you see may not be from your neighbour!

If you see a large mass of bees in your garden, under a tree or in some other temporary location, this is the best time to move them on. You can contact one of the listed Swarmcatchers to assist you in doing this. Dont be overly anxious about swarms as the bees tend to be totally focussed on protecting their queen and are unlikely to be aggressive. They are just looking for a new home, although in finding one they may outcompete native fauna for scarce housing in tree hollows. 

If the bees find a more permanent location - in your patio furniture, in your compost tumbler or even in the walls of your house - they become a feral hive and can start acting aggressively. Removal can become considerably more difficult and expensive, so act as soon as you see them. There will more than likely be a cost involved, so please read the advice on the WAAS Swarms page about the questions you should ask.

For more information and to locate a swarmcatcher, go to the Swarms page.