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Help! We've got a swarm of bees in the garden

ARE YOU SURE THEY'RE BEES? Many people do not know the difference between similar looking insects and assume they have a swarm of honeybees when they may have a wasps' nest or a bumble bees' nest instead.
A Honeybee A Common Wasp A Bumblebee
HOW WILL I KNOW?
Honeybees may be light coloured - a dull yellow or brown - through to dark brown, and are fairly uniformly coloured, with indistinct markings. By contrast, wasps have very distinct bright yellow and black markings. Bumble bees are usually larger than honeybees or wasps, are very "furry" and may be black and yellow, black with a white tail or orange tail.
WHAT IS A SWARM?
Sometimes a colony of bees becomes too big for its home - a hive, hollow tree, disused chimney etc. - and then the queen and many of the bees leave to find a new home. This is a swarm. Whilst scouts search for a new home the main body of the swarm will hang in a large cluster on a convenient tree, bush or post.
WHAT SHOULD I DO?
Don't panic. They will not hurt anyone unless disturbed. Before leaving their old home they fill themselves with honey and are quite docile. Leave them alone and contact one of the following:
  • See our contacts on this website, below.
  • Your Local Police Station ( Do not ring 999 !!!)
  • Your local Council's Environmental Services
  • The Citizens Advice Bureau
They can put you in touch with a beekeeper who will come and remove the swarm, or see below.
PROTECT NATURE
Please remember that all kinds of bees (and many other insects) are valuable for pollination - Never destroy them needlessly.

Having trouble with Swarms ?

The honeybee often swarms as part of a natural process and this usually takes place between May and July. In this state the bees are normally harmless and benign and usually not a risk to the general public.

Once they leave the hive, they will settle in a nearby tree or bush whilst they find a more permanent home and because they have no hive to protect they are not normally aggressive if left alone.

If you see a swarm in your garden you can contact a local beekeeper from the list below who will arrange to visit the site and either collect the swarm or advise you of the best course of action. Sometimes the swarm turns out to be wasps or bumble-bees in which case the bee-keeper will advise you what you should do. Sometimes the beekeeper will help you deal with these swarms too, but there may be an additional cost element and he/she will advise you of this before carrying out any extra work on your behalf.

The following beekeepers are prepared to assist you in dealing with swarms - call the one nearest to you.

Please note:There is a nominal call-out expenses charge of £10 to cover time and petrol costs.

  • Roger Chappel, Darlington / Newton Aycliffe / Bishop Auckland, Tel 01325 315741
  • Mark Hodge, Hartlepool, Tel 01429 423671
  • Sal Mancina, Hutton Rudby/Stokesely, Tel 01642 701621
  • Barrie Bloom, Guisborough, Tel 01287 634567
  • Graeme Kidd, Guisborough, Tel 01287 632685
  • Ian Brown, Guisborough, Tel 01287 632851
  • Chris Rutter, Saltburn, Tel 01287 659556
  • John Law, Stockton/Eaglescliffe, Tel 01642 786965 or Mobile 07939 263501
  • Bryan Hateley, Stockton / Sedgefield, Tel 01740 630025