Swarms

Bees usually swarm on a warm sunny day and will swirl around for perhaps 10 minutes before settling.  Stay indoors if you are worried but keep an eye on them.

 

 

 

Once they have settled, please phone one of the members below and tell them the location of the swarm.  Is it high in a tree, low in a bush, hanging on a wall?  These things are all useful for the beekeeper so they know what equipment to bring.
The beekeeper will come and collect the swarm.  In this case, the swarm has settled amongst the branches of a tree.  The beekeeper has rested his swarm collecting box above the swarm and the bees should walk into it.  They may need some encouragement with a bit of smoke.

Swarming honey bees.

 

With bee colonies in decline, swarms are precious.  This is Nature's way of making a new colony.  Typically a swarm consists of 10 to 20 thousand honeybees.  A swarm usually settles on a tree or building as a dense football-sized cluster.


Actions:


1. If you discover a swarm in your garden, phone one of our swarm collectors without delay (the closer the better)

2. Although swarms are usually good tempered, they should only be approached by an experienced beekeeper.


If you cannot contact a collector, please phone our SCBKA Swarm Coordinator: - Richard Guy: 01491 636323 or 07984 485244


Feedback: Are you happy with our service?  Email swarms@scbka.org

SCBKA Swarm Collectors

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Richard Guy                      RG9     Henley-on-Thames     07984 485244    01491 636323

Chris Pye                          RG9     Shiplake                       07733 060233

Jonathan Longley              RG9     Nettlebed                    07712 221147     01491 641445

Ben Hornby                      OX11   Didcot                          07739 666718

Toby Price                        OX14   Abingdon                     07970 196108

Chris Bergmann               RG8      Whitchurch                   07876 531881    01189 843952