Beekeepers will only colect honey bee swarms. 

Swarms of honey bees can take many forms but are essentially a ball of bees as seen in these pictures.  

If they are all in the air like a huge cloud, then wait for them to settle before you report their location.

Some pointers:

  1. If they are little balls of fluff flying around then they are likely bumbles and not honey bees.  You should just leave these alone until July when they will go on their own.  No need to worry as these are usually very docile. 
  2. Honey bees don't usually like to be in a bird box.  The space is far too smal and not ideal.  It is bumbles that like bird boxes. (See above)
  3. If you have a tree that is Buzzing and alive with bee activity then this is likely just bees feeding.  Certain trees have a short window of nectar and especially in June when there is a shortage of pollen the bees go wild for it. There is nothing to be done here just wait for a couple of days and they will leave on their own, and enjoy doing something good for nature.
  4. Bees inside your facias are usually long-term residents. Then tend not to be a swarm.  If there is a swarm then it is usually a swarm leaving the site so report this as a swarm if it settles somewhere that you have accesess and permission but the original colony in your roof is a pest control job.
  5. Beekeepers SHOULD NOT be collecting swarms without the land-owners permission. So, if the swarm is in your neighbours garden then you should really try to help to get their permission before the beekeeper comes out to collect. (Even if you are doing them a favour).

Why do swarms occur?

Swarms occur naturally and are nature’s way of reproducing the colony as well as the bees. Usually between April and July, if a colony of bees is strong and healthy the colony will decide to swarm. A recently laid egg will be placed in a special queen cell and will develop into the next queen, fed on Royal Jelly. The old queen will then leave the nest with half of the bees alongside her. This old queen will set up a new colony but while they wait for the scouts to find the perfect place they will rest as a swarm on a tree or post or somewhere similar.  Usually, 4 to 7 feet off the ground and in a large ball.  They are not aggressive and have no honey to defend but should not be disturbed without the proper equipment.

Is it a HONEY BEE?

Only one of the above is a honey bee. The others will not swarm and will not be picked up as a honey bee swarm.

Bees Nests and Cut-Outs

If you have a bees nest that needs removing then it is possible to remove the nest in what is known as a cut-out. Firstly check that the bees are indeed honey bees. There are 4 most common bee-like insects that often make homes in our houses and gardens.

  1. Honey bee: Brown and black see the image above. These will damage things if left unattended as you could end up with a HUGE nest with thousands of bees and Kg’s of honey dripping through your walls.

  2. Bumbles: Fury balls of fluff with white, red or yellow bottoms. These often nest in walls or trees or the ground. They are docile and non-aggressive and live in small colonies they do no damage and can be left till July when they take themselves away. Best bet to leave them.

  3. Red Mason bees: Similar to the honey bee but with a red tint to their tops and yellow undercarriage. These are chilled and docile living in the walls and can just be left till the winter when you seal the hole if you don’t want them to come back the next year.

  4. Yellow jackets or wasps. This is a job for pest control.

Removing an established bees nest will take a lot more time and resources than a swarm. The aim is still the same but the process required cutting into the housing and removing the nest along with all the bees. 

This is a job for a professional Bee Rescue pest controller and not really what this site is about.