Sutton Coldfield Beekeeper

Swarms

Swarms - swarms@suttoncoldfield-beekeeper.co.uk

If you live within 8 miles of the Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham area and have a swarm that you would like removing I may be able to help you.

Please contact me by on the above email address or telephone number.

A swarm is a part or, in some cases, all of a colony of bees that has left its home - either a hive or perhaps a hollow tree.

When a swarm first issues from a colony, it will usually fly around for a short while and then settle, possibly on the branch of a tree. The swarm will then send scouts to find a new home and then, when they have found one, will move to it. A swarm may hang up for just a few minutes or for several days, but when it moves off it will be gone in a couple of minutes.

A large swarm will make a considerable amount of noise as it is flying around and can be quite a frightening sight to the non-beekeeper. However, most swarms are very docile and will not sting as they are full of food for their journey.

Types of Swarm

A large swarm is called a Prime Swarm and these are usually seen from May.
A small swarm can also be seen and these are called casts.

Help!

Swarms are normally very docile and do not sting unless severely provoked. Even if bees land on you, they will simply fly away again if you let them. This is because bees normally sting only in defence of their home - and a swarm does not have a home to defend.

What you should do

If the swarm is still flying around wait for it to settle - beekeepers cannot collect swarms in mid-air!
If there are bees in the house, it is essential to open the windows quickly to let them out - it is perfectly safe to walk into a room with bees in it - so that they rejoin the swarm.
Keep people - especially children - well back from the swarm so that it remains settled.
Contact a beekeeper immediately - the local police will have contact numbers.
Give a sensible estimate of the size of the swarm - rugby ball, coconut, tennis ball.
Give an honest estimate of the height of the swarm above the ground and whether there are good ladders available to reach it - remember that the beekeeper will need to get up beside it.

Please DO NOT

Try to swat them - bees like slow movements, so move slowly and calmly
Never attempt to deal with a swarm yourself in any way
Never try to kill the bees, especially with insecticide. This will certainly end in failure and may well provoke the bees to attack; it will, at the very least, leave the remaining bees disorientated and unmanageable so that most beekeepers will then refuse to help you
If bees land on your hair, do not flap at them or try to brush them away - you will rub them into your hair and they will then sting! Just keep your hands in your pockets and let them fly away when they are ready.