Bee Swarms
Swarms of European Honeybees

Swarming is a fundamental part of the natural reproductive life cycle of honeybees. One Swarms usually emerge from their colonies on warm, sunny days. However, a sudden weather change does not interrupt the swarming urge once the process has been instigated by raising successor queens. When the time is due for the swarm to emerge, it will - regardless of the weather, even hail and cold winds won't stop it.

Such a natural spectacle begins with thousands of flying bees emerging from their hive and buzzing around and above it. About ten minutes later this buzzing cloud slowly drifts away for only a few meters or a few hundred meters, just to gather again, in form of a swarm cluster, often hanging on a tree branch, all clinging to each other.

What to do when a swarm of bees arrives on your property



When a swarm of bees arrives on your property there is no need to panic!
Despite the thousands of bees buzzing around, they are not on the attack.

Consider yourself as fortunate being able to witness one of nature's wonderful performances. All the bees are doing is looking for a new home. The bees enjoy their time outside, full of joy and excitement, to sting is not on their mind at all.

However, if the swarm has been interfered with prior to the arrival on your property, the bees might be agitated and not so joyful anymore.  

When you see a swarm of honeybees settling on your property:

• Keep children and pets inside the house until the flying bees have clustered onto a bush or another object.
  
• After the swarm has clustered and most of the bees have stopped flying, it is usually safe to be outside the house.
  
• Keep children and animals well away from the swarm.
  
• Arrange to have the swarm removed by a beekeeper.
  
• Wear footwear to protect your feet in case bees have settled or are crawling on the ground.
  
• Do not attempt to move the swarm by hosing it, throwing stones at it, smoking the bees or taking any action to make the swarm move.
  
• Do not spray the swarm with fly spray or any other pesticide.
  
• Any interference with the swarm will only aggravate the bees and encourage them to sting in defence.
  
• Interfering with the swarm will make it more difficult for a beekeeper to deal with the bees.