Honey Bee Swarm Collection
Leeds Beekeepers Association offer a bee swarm removal service
Between April and September a colony of honey bees may swarm.
The queen leaves the existing location with around half the bees in the colony to set up a new home. During this time there may be a large cloud of honey bees, but as they are well fed, and ready to relocate, they are very reluctant to sting. A honey bee can only sting once and then it dies, the new colony needs as many bees as possible!
After leaving the existing location a swarm of honey bees will temporarily cluster on a nearby tree, fence post or wall whilst a number of scout bees locate a new home that is suitable, often a tree cavity or within the structure of a building. The swarm will then fly to that new site, set up home and could remain there for several years.
If the honey bees are clustered such as illustrated above, and in an easily accessible location within Leeds and the surrounding areas of West Yorkshire, then we can arrange for a Leeds Beekeeper to collect the swarm. Our association has a a number of experienced beekeepers across the Leeds area that will collect and rehome swarms of honey bees. Every swarm is different, some may be removed quite quickly, some make take several hours and some may also require a return visit late in the evening to ensure all bees are collected.
Donations are requested to assist in the funding of this important service, so we ask that you make a minimum donation of £30 to cover the attending beekeeper's expenses and ever increasing fuel costs .
Before calling us, please take a few minutes to ensure a positive identification of a honey bee swarm using this identification chart
Please note, Leeds Beekeepers Association does not rehome bumblebees as this is rarely successful, nor do we deal with wasps or hornets.
If the honey bees are located within the structure of a building and they are causing a problem then it may be necessary for you to to employ the services of a reputable pest controller to kill the bees, remove the nest, and seal all entrances to the cavity.
If you have made a positive identification that it is a honey bee swarm you have observed then please call us on 07855 308143