A swarm of Honeybees is roughly round in shape and is either found on a tree, hanging from a branch or sited on a post. The size will vary, but usually they are about the size of a football. You might have seen the swarm arrive with thousands of bees in the air, heralded with a roar. The bees will have just left their previous home and will settle on a convenient branch.  They may well have another home already in mind but most swarms will remain where they are until they have found a new situation.

What should I do?
Don’t try to make the bees move on. The swarm will break up and probably land in an even more inconvenient place from which to remove them. Whilst they are in a swarm, they are usually less inclined to sting – but don’t attempt to get too close.

If you think you have a swarm of Honeybees, you can CONTACT A BEEKEEPER. This is a voluntary service. It may not be possible to arrange for a beekeeper to come straight away,  you may be asked to leave your name and number on voice-mail.

What will the Beekeeper do?

When the beekeeper arrives,  they will assess the situation and may place a skep or a box on the ground, on a white cloth.  He or she will then shake the swarm into it. The beekeeper will wait to ensure that most of the bees have gone in. It may not be possible to take the swarm away immediately – it will not be until the evening, when the bees have stopped flying, and are all in the container, that the beekeeper will be able to actually remove them to an Apiary.

Is there a charge for this service?

Yes, although it is a voluntary service, there are expenses incurred; for example: the cost of petrol, costs incurred in providing the bees with frames of wax and medication to rid the bees of parasites. There is no hard and fast rule regarding price but it might be in the region of £30 – £40

For more information on Bumblebees, Wasps, Solitary bees etc  we recommend you look here.