Swarms
What is a honey bee swarm and what does it look like?
Swarming is a natural phenomenon – it is how honey bees reproduce naturally. A big strong colony divides into two colonies and a large number of bees will leave the nest (which may be in a managed hive or in a natural cavity like a hollow tree) and seek a new nest site.
A swarm is a spectacular sight but can be quite alarming to a non-beekeeper as many thousands of bees take to the air and swirl around before settling in a cluster such as the one shown in the photo.
Whilst a clustered swarm is generally quite calm, you should keep a safe distance from it and ensure that children and pets do likewise.
Once a clustered swarm has identified a new nest site, the bees will take to the air again and move to their new home. This may happen within a few hours but may take a few days.
Most of the swarms reported are not honey bees at all – they are Bumblebees or solitary bees which nest in a range of places including holes in air bricks or even in the ground. You will see these bees coming and going in much smaller numbers than in a honey bee swarm.
Honey bees are also confused with wasps because they have a similar shape. However, wasps have distinct yellow/black bands around the abdomen whereas honey bees have a more non-descript light brown/brown-yellow colour. Bees tend to be ‘hairy’ to allow pollen to be gathered more easily whilst wasps tend to be bald and shiny in appearance.
Although honey bees are capable of stinging, they are generally not aggressive and will not sting unless provoked. They should ideally be left alone.
Wasps often build nests in sheds, garages and roof spaces. These nests can be very large and look like a large papery ball. If the nest is in current use there will be a steady stream of wasps entering and leaving, sometimes via a tiny hole in mortar or woodwork. Removal of wasp nests is a specialist job for a pest controller and beekeepers will not usually assist with the removal of these.
These photos may help with identification.
If you have a swarm of honey bees and want it to be removed you can ask a beekeeper to do that. Provided the swarm can be reached safely, beekeepers are normally happy to collect and rehome the bees. You can use our swarm contacts map to identify a nearby beekeeper.
Most beekeepers are hobbyists and those who collect swarms of honey bees do so voluntarily. Help them by providing some basic information when you call.
What do the bees look like and how many are there? Provide pictures if at all possible.
Where are they and how long have they been there?
Are there any access issues? Are the bees on your property or somewhere else? Are they at a height so a ladder would be required?
Find a beekeeper using our Swarm contacts map below or, if no-one is shown in your area, click here to visit the local association pages to find your nearest local association.
Swarm Contacts Map
Enter your postcode to find your nearest honey bee swarm collectors.
Click on a red pin to see their phone number and postcode. The map zoom button is in the lower right corner.
if no-one is shown in your area, click here to visit the local association pages to find your nearest local association.
If you phone, be ready to say where the swarm is, how high it is above the ground, how long it has been there, and whether it is on your property.
This infographic may be helpful to members who are contacted by the public about swarms
