Swarm Removal

For honeybee swarm removal, or help and advice on any bee related matters, see the contact information at the bottom of this page.

PLEASE NOTE: WE ARE UNABLE TO REMOVE ESTABLISHED COLONIES IN BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES, AND AT HEIGHTS AND INACCESSIBLE LOCATIONS THAT POSE A SAFETY RISK TO OUR MEMBERS.

Honeybees, bumblebees and wasps

Most beekeepers will do their best to help out when someone is troubled by a swarm of honeybees. A swarm is very often attracted to the vicinity of other bees, so quite often they arrive in a beekeeper’s garden, but bees are notorious for not reading the books, so sometimes the swarm arrives in a garden where they are not so welcome. Swarming is the honeybee’s natural means of reproduction. One colony will split into two, three, or sometimes more. Each swarm that emerges, be it from a beekeeper’s hive, or from a hollow tree in the wild, will usually form a cluster in a tree or a shrub. This is a transitional stage, where the bees can regroup prior to moving off to a new home. This transitional stage can take anything from a few minutes, to several hours. There is a belief amongst beekeepers, that the time of a swarm’s departure can be pinpointed accurately to ten minutes before the beekeeper arrives to take them.

One often reads in the press of “killer swarms”, which can apparently cause widespread injuries, and overturn small lorries. Ok, I’m exaggerating, but there is no doubt that there are occasions when the media tend to sensationalise what is a perfectly natural phenomenon. Swarming bees are as natural as swarming ants, or swarming gnats, and pose almost as little threat. Before leaving home, the bees that are going to join the swarm gorge themselves with honey, carrying as much as they can with them to help in setting up their new home. When they are full of honey, they are at their most placid. Also, at the time when they are clustered on a tree or shrub, they have no home to defend, and no brood to protect, so they are not in defensive mode. Their only interest is in locating a suitable new home. What they are seeking is a dark cavity, large enough to house them, and which will offer them security against the weather and predators. In nature, this would probably be a hollow tree, but man has developed some very useful cavities, which the bees sometimes find equally attractive. A cavity wall, a space under roofing tiles, or an unused chimney. It is sometimes said that all the best homes in the country have their own colony of bees in the roof, or the chimney, and it is true that in these situations, the bees do no damage. Unfortunately, it is also true however, that many people have a genuine fear of the insect, and do not want them in close proximity. These are the circumstances when a beekeeper is usually called out.

There is a limit however, to the beekeeper’s capabilities. If the swarm is hanging in a cluster in the garden, then a beekeeper can remove them without a great deal of difficulty, but if they have entered a building, it is then usually beyond the scope of most beekeepers. Specialist equipment is often required, such as ladders and/or scaffolding, and then there is the risk of damage to property, and the associated insurance implications. This then becomes a task for the local Environmental Health Services. Before calling out anyone however, it is necessary to establish what sort of insects we are dealing with. A beekeeper is usually happy to help with a swarm of honeybees, but does not provide a free service to deal with wasps, bumble bees, or solitary bees.

A honeybee is about the same size as a wasp, but brown in colour. They form large colonies, and can take up residence in hollow trees, under roofing tiles, and in unused chimneys. On a fine summer day, dozens will be seen coming and going usually through a single entrance. They exist as a colony through winter as well as summer, and if left alone pose very little threat. When in a swarming cluster, they can be removed by a beekeeper.

Wasps are distinctive by their bright yellow colour. They build nests usually in the ground, but sometimes under roof tiles or in sheds. Unlike the honeybees’ comb, which is constructed from beeswax, the wasp’s nest is made from a very delicate paper material, made from wood scrapings and saliva. They live as a colony ranging from a few dozen to several hundred, and can be seen coming and going through their entrance not more than two or three at a time. In the autumn, all the workers and drones die, leaving only newly mated queens to hibernate and start a new colony the following spring, usually in a new location. A colony of wasps does not usually pose a threat if left alone, but they can be a nuisance in the kitchen, and are predators of other insects, including honeybees. If destruction is necessary, the local Pest Control Officer should be called in.

Bumblebees come in a range of sizes and markings, but they can usually be distinguished by their fat, hairy bodies, and a louder than normal buzz. Their life cycle is not dissimilar to the wasps, in that only the queens survive through winter to start a new colony each spring. They usually nest at ground level, in the base of hedgerows, or under stones, often making use of an abandoned mouse’s nest. Numbers rarely reach a hundred, usually much less, and if the entrance is observed, little activity can be seen, individuals coming and going one at a time. Extremely valuable as pollinators, bumblebees are rarely known to sting, and if possible, their nest site should be protected.

The final group of insects that sometimes cause concern are Solitary Bees. These are harmless bees, which, as the name suggests, lead solitary existences. Mated females over-winter and in the spring, excavate tunnels in the ground, or in hollow twigs or old masonry walls, depending on the species. They provision the tunnels with pellets of pollen onto which they lay an egg. When the tunnel is fully provisioned, it is sealed, and the bee’s job is done. She never gets to see her offspring. Although leading a solitary life style, if an area is particularly attractive, such as a lawn with light, sandy soil, many individuals can take advantage of it. Solitary bees pose no threat at all, and, like bumble bees, should be protected wherever possible.

Most types of bee have been in considerable decline in recent years, with some species even becoming extinct. Our community relies heavily upon their invaluable pollinating skills, both for food, and the environment. Without them, our diet would be very different, and destruction of any bees should therefore be considered, only as a last resort.

Swarm Removal Contacts

Bridgwater

Richard Cherry, mobile 07502016955 

Burnham Area

John Creber, Mark. 01278 641435

Tom O’Neil, West Huntspill. 01278 783771

Stan Woodberry, Burnham-on-Sea. 01278 795180

Cheddar and Wedmore

T Andrews, Draycott 01749 870365

S Bawden, Blagdon 01761 221387

C Butter, Draycott 01934 742075

J Friend, Stone Allerton, 01934 712971

L Garley, Wedmore, 01934 712492

M Leftley, Wedmore, 01934 712043

K Masters, Bleadney. 01749 670349

Frome Area

Ken Tredgett, Frome. 01373 464736

Mike Scovell, Frome. 01373 465957

Ilminster/Chard Area

John Callow, Shepton Beauchamp. 01460 241135

Gilly Boase, Merriott, Crewkerne. 01460 74175

Chris Jeffery, Dowlish Wake, Ilminster. 01460 53395

Ken Dewsbury, Seavington St Michael. 01460 241155

Radstock Area

Mrs Liz Currell, East Harptree. 01761 221706

Alan Weaver, Paulton. 01761 417604

Bernard Newton, Paulton. 01761 419076

Mike Jay, Hinton Blewitt. 01761 452344

Ms. Megan Seymour, Wells. Home 01749 677628

Work 01225 321958

Somerton area

Central contact 01278 722331

Taunton

M N Clark ,, Brookfield , Rectory Drive, Staplegrove, Taunton TA2 6AP 01823 282239

S J Gammon , 500 Cheddon Road , Taunton TA2 7QX   01823 270465

Ms L Garner , Long Down Barns , Appley, Stawley, Wellington TA21 0HL 01823 672119

Mrs R McClure, 1 Newlands Grove, Ruishton, Taunton. TA3 5JJ 01823 442677

D Pearce , Haddeo , Bathealton, Taunton TA4 2AG 01984 623851

Richard Cherry, mobile 07502016955 

Wells/Shepton Mallet Area

Kevin Knowles, Moorwood, Oakhill. 01749 840368 – home

Phil Stevens Mob. 07974704046 Daytime work 01749 330422

Chris Wright, Ansford, Castle Cary. 01963 350897

Colin Williams, Wookey, Wells. 01749 676459

Wincanton Area

Bob Jones, Horsington, Templecombe. 01963 370562

Jonathon Mitchell, Pylle, Shepton Mallet. 07946 448896