Welcome to The Bee Hive
🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝. SWARMING BEES. 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝
What to do if you find a swarm of bees
Don’t panic 🫨. Is it Dangerous?
While they look scary, swarming bees are generally at their most passive state. They are homeless and have no hive, honey, or young to defend. They are only likely to sting if they are directly provoked or crushed
Collecting your SWARM the bees 🐝🐝🐝
How to Report a Swarm
As I am coordinator for Swarm Collection for South Gippsland Beekeepers we provide free collection service, though please note that travel costs may apply.
- Take a Photo: If possible, take a photo of the swarm.
- Send a Text: Send the photo via text to Risky Beesiness 0421107951 before calling. This allows the team to assess the size, height, and location of the swarm more efficiently.
- Call me to organise a beekeeper from the Bee Club to visit your location.
- Swarm Coordinator: John Riske
- Mobile: 0421 107 951
What happens to the Bees when collected?
The Collection Process
- Containment: The beekeeper uses a "nuc box" (a small, portable hive) or a cardboard box to house the bees.
- The "Shake" or "Scoop": If the bees are on a branch, the beekeeper gives it a sharp, firm shake to drop the cluster into the box. If they are on a flat surface, they are gently scooped by hand or brushed in.
- Securing the Queen: The goal is to capture the queen. Once she is inside the box, she releases pheromones that signal the rest of the bees to follow her.
- Gathering Stragglers: The beekeeper often leaves the box near the original site until dusk. This allows "scout" and "foraging" bees that were out looking for homes or food to return and rejoin the colony