What to do when you spot a bee swarm in Brisbane, Gold Coast or Logan

Swarm season is an exciting yet nerve-wracking time for beekeepers and the public alike. It usually occurs in spring and early summer when bees are actively reproducing, and some colonies decide it’s time to find a new home. If you’ve ever stumbled upon a swarm of bees clustered together in a ball, you might be unsure of what to do next. Here’s a guide to help you understand what’s happening and why our bee swarm removal service available in Brisbane, Gold Coast and Logan, is the best course of action.

What is a swarm?

A swarm is essentially a bee colony on the move. When a colony becomes too large, the old queen and about half the worker bees leave their current hive to find a new home. They’ll gather in a temporary location, such as a tree branch, fence post, or even the side of a building, while scout bees search for a suitable permanent home.

This is when you’re most likely to notice them – a big, buzzing ball of bees hanging out in an unusual place. While it may look intimidating, swarming bees are typically not aggressive because they’re focused on finding a new home and protecting the queen.

Why you should act fast

The key thing to understand about swarms is that they’re in transition. The cluster you see isn’t planning to stay there for long – they’re just waiting for their scout bees to find a permanent home. And this is where the situation can take a turn for the worse.

If the bees find a cavity in your wall, roof, or another hard-to-reach place, they may decide to settle there. Once they move in, removing them becomes a difficult and costly task. In many cases, the only option may be to exterminate the swarm, which is something every beekeeper and bee lover wants to avoid.

What you should do if you spot a swarm in Brisbane, Gold Coast and Logan

If you see a swarm of bees, the best thing to do is call Hampson Honey immediately. Pest control companies often won’t have the skill or knowledge how to deal with a swarm of bees. Our beekeepers can then assess the situation and work out what would be the best course of action for the bees. Often wild hives may have with diseases like AFB, EFB or varroa mites, so finding an experienced commercial beekeeper to isolate the swarm from other bees is the safest thing to do for the community. Once the hive is established, it can be monitored for diseases. It is imperative to act straight away before bees find a new home in your wall cavities or ceiling. Once bees have made a new home, it will be much more difficult to remove them and the longer they are left inside a wall cavity, the bigger chance you have of having a whole host of pest problems as they start to build honey and wax inside your wall.

Here are the steps you should follow:

Stay calm: Remember, swarming bees are not aggressive. They’re focused on protecting their queen and finding a new home, not on stinging people.
Keep your distance: It’s best not to disturb the swarm. Avoid loud noises or sudden movements around them. They are in protection mode, so if they feel like their queen is in danger, they will start to attack.
Call for help: Reach out to Hampson Honey as soon as possible. The quicker they can get to the swarm, the better the chances of safely relocating the bees.

Why it’s important to save swarms

Bees play a crucial role in pollinating plants, which in turn helps produce much of the food we eat. By rescuing and rehoming swarms, beekeepers help maintain healthy bee populations, which is vital for our environment and food supply.

Additionally, with bee populations under threat from factors like pesticides, disease, and habitat loss, every swarm counts. Rescuing a swarm rather than exterminating it is a small but significant way to support bees and the environment.

Swarm season is a natural part of a bee colony’s life cycle, but it can become a problem if bees make their home in hard-to-reach places. If you spot a bee swarm, it’s crucial to call for help before the bees move into a more permanent location. By acting quickly, you can help save the bees and prevent the need for drastic measures later. Remember, your local beekeeper is your best resource during swarm season – they can safely remove and rehome the bees, benefiting both you and the environment.

By staying informed and ready to act, you can play a vital role in helping protect our valuable bee populations during swarm season. If you’re having issues with a bee swarm, contact us today for our swarm removal service!