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Swarm Assistance

Why do bees swarm?

The swarming process is part of the natural reproductive life cycle of honey bee colonies. Colonies are stimulated to swarm during spring when warmer weather, together with an abundance of nectar and pollen, provide ideal conditions for the colony to increase rapidly.

The queen, together with the field bees, leaves the overcrowded hive and clusters on a nearby object, usually a small tree or shrub. The swarm will often remain for a day or two while scout bees (worker bees) search for a new home, or it may move to another location.

In the parent colony, new virgin queens emerge from queen cells and fight to the death. The fittest queen will survive and usually mate, and continue to maintain the colony.

Although bees swarm mostly in the spring (from September to November), some colonies may swarm during the summer and autumn. Most swarms leave the colony or move to a new location between 10am and 2pm on warm sunny days. During wet weather a swarm may stay in its resting place for several days.

Small Swarm


Found a swarm?

Stay calm & call a local beekeeper! Most people who are unfamiliar with honey bees have a natural fear of them when they occur in large numbers. But swarming bees… Read More »Found a swarm?

Call one of our local beekeepers:

NAME PHONE AREA
Steve Bliss Maidenwell
Robert Hughes

Chris Wimpenny

Stewart Anderson

0428 412 611

0449 186 076

Kingaroy

East Nanango

Nanango