Beekeepers do not normally deal with colonies of wasps, as they require specialist treatments, however, much of the information below can also apply to other flying insects, e.g. wasps.

 

Honey bees swarming is a natural event and can occur at any time during the Spring and Summer.

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When honey bees swarm, a large proportion of the honey bee colony leave their nest in search of a new location to start a new colony and that place can be anywhere that is warm and dry. The types of places can include:

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• Trees

• Inside roof spaces

• Behind facia boards and soffits

• Between the ceiling and floor boards

• Wall cavities

• Sheds

• Garages

• Out buildings

• Compost bins

• And many more places, in other words, anywhere that offers honey bee’s protection from the elements and room/space to expand.

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A swarm of honey bees occurs when a proportion

of honey bees leave their nest (colony). When they

first leave honey bees usually form a cluster in or

on any suitable place, which might be a tree,

gatepost or on an object. After they are organised

into a cluster, they will fly to their new “home”.

 

A colony of honey bees is an established and

mature/growing entity which can consist of up to

forty thousand honey bees i.e. substantially larger

than a swarm of honey bees. It will contain bees,

bee's wax comb and stores of honey and will take

up a sizable amount of space.

 

Swarms of honey bees can usually be safely

removed by a suitably qualified/experienced

beekeeper if they are contacted in time. If the

honey bees have taken up residence in the fabric

of a building, that can be more difficult (if not

impossible) to be safely dealt with by a beekeeper.

Refer to our contacts listed above.

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Professional pest control personnel may be required to undertake the work either solely or in conjunction with a beekeeper, depending on the individual colony circumstances. If the honey bees are not causing a nuisance or a threat, they can be left alone. Some properties are known to have had honey bee colonies within their fabric for many years without causing any disturbance or problems to the property owner.

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If the honey bees are considered by the property owner to present a risk or a disturbance to them, beekeepers will always provide help and advice.

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Whilst suitably qualified beekeepers are normally able to remove swarms of honey bees and are insured for all normal beekeeping activities, the insurance does not extend to working at heights or undertaking building works to gain access to honey bees. Those are jobs for professionals i.e. builders and pest control personnel. Beekeepers cannot put any member of the public or them selves at risk by undertaking swarm collection in dangerous or hazardous environments.