- Risk level
- Medium
- Peak season
- Swarms in spring (Sept–Nov)
- Where you’ll find them
- Tree branches, wall cavities, roof voids, chimneys
- DIY?
- Not recommended
Overview
In spring, honey bee colonies split and a swarm of thousands of bees leaves to find a new home. A swarm hanging from a branch is usually docile and moves on within a day or two. A colony that has moved into a wall, roof or chimney is a different problem.
How to identify bee swarms & hives
European honey bee (Apis mellifera)
Golden-brown with darker bands, fuzzy body, 12–15 mm. Stings once and dies.
Signs you have a problem
- A large cluster of bees hanging from a branch, fence or eave
- Bees flying in and out of a gap in brickwork, weatherboards or the roof
- A humming sound in a wall; honey or wax staining the ceiling
Why it matters
- Stings, especially dangerous for people with bee allergies
- Hives in walls can leak honey, attract other pests and damage plaster
How we treat bee swarms & hives
- 1
Assess the situation
We look at whether it’s a temporary swarm or an established hive and how accessible it is.
- 2
Swarm referral
Where possible, swarms in accessible places are referred to a local registered beekeeper for collection.
- 3
Established hive treatment
Where removal isn’t possible and the hive is a safety risk, it is treated and the entry sealed so other bees aren’t attracted to leftover honey.
Prevention tips you can do today
- Seal gaps in eaves, weatherboards and wall vents before spring
- Cap unused chimneys
- Act early — a new swarm is easier to deal with than an established hive