Honey Bee (Swarm)

Where it lives

Swarms rest temporarily on branches, walls and railings while scouts find a permanent home. Established colonies occupy chimneys, wall cavities, roof voids and disused water tanks.

Signs

• A dense hanging cluster of bees on a branch, wall or post
• Steady two-way traffic into a single small hole in a wall or chimney
• Honeycomb visible in a cavity or roof void
• Wax or honey staining on an internal wall or ceiling

Risks

• Stings, and a real risk to anyone allergic to bee venom
• An established colony in a cavity leaves wax and honey that attract wax moth and rodents
• Honey can seep through and stain plaster and ceilings

Prevention

• Seal disused chimneys, vents and cavity openings before spring
• Remove old comb after a colony is relocated, or the site will be re-colonised
• Do not spray or block a bee colony, which drives the bees indoors
• Keep clear of a resting swarm and call for collection

Treatment

We assess the colony and coordinate collection and relocation with local beekeepers wherever it is feasible. For colonies established inside a cavity we arrange careful cut-out and removal of comb, then proof the void so bees do not return. Destruction is a last resort, used only where relocation is impossible and there is a genuine public safety risk.