Swarming
I think I have a swarm.
What should I do?
First, check if it's a honey bee swarm!
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You can use the information below to help find this out.
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Please note that we can ONLY deal with honey bee swarms
If the bees are somewhere easily accessible then....
If you have identified a honey bee swarm then leave it alone and record the following information:
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1. Address of swarm location
2. Contact name and telephone number of a witness
3. Is the swarm accessible? e.g. Is a ladder required?
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The following members are prepared to come and collect honey bee swarms in their area. Please contact the individual directly at the number given below. If they are unable to answer please leave a message detailing the above points.
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We can be very busy during the swarming season, so please be patient and someone will contact you. Please note we collect swarms at the home owner and/or land owner’s risk and we cannot be held responsible for any damage caused to property.
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Please note, the beekeeper may charge for their service.
These people are all volunteers and will not be able to help with any building work or be able to collect swarms from inaccessible places.
Cardiff, Cardiff West, Llantrisant & Vale of Glamorgan
Nick Mensikov
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0794 996 9530
Caerphilly / North Cardiff / Blackwood / Abertillery
Darran Evans
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0781 005 9829
All Areas
Kevin Lewis
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0790 870 1537
Cardiff East
Beverley Price
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029 2036 2367
Cardiff & Vale of Glamorgan
Barbara & Harold Williams
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0771 526 2207
Aberdare / Merthyr Tydfil
Kevin Edwards
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0779 918 0130
Barry & Wenvoe
Clive & Melanie Jenkins
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0756 297 4771
Caerphilly / North Cardiff
John Sweet
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0759 534 5762
Penarth & Dinas Powys
Lynette El-Khatib
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0750 627 2225
Llantrisant, Cowbridge, Llanharan, Pencoed and Bridgend
Lionel Slade
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0773 925 0829
If the bees are in a building .....
Beekeepers are usually not builders; therefore, we cannot remove bees from building walls, chimneys, or roof spaces. There are several specialised companies that do offer this kind of service, and there is more information and guidance on the BBKA Website Bees in Buildings | British Beekeepers Association
There will be a charge for this service.
Interactive map of beekeepers
Just type in the postcode of the localtion of the swarm and press "Find the nearest swarm collectors"
If you then click on a pin you'll get the name and phone number of a swarm collector.
Is it a honey bee?
Swarming is a natural process that occurs when honey bees in the hive allow a new queen to develop and the colony splits into two smaller colonies. Swarming is the honey bees' way of reproducing.
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One group of bees with a queen will fly and eventually land in a suitable location, such as tree or post. Some bees can be seen flying from the swarm, these are scout bees, searching for a suitable place for the colony to fly to and set up a permanent hive.
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The usual swarming season is between April to the end of August, and this is the time when members of the public often need the services of a beekeeper to deal with honey bee swarms.
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Beekeepers will only deal with honey bees swarms, and this page has been created to help you identify the most common types of insects we get called out to deal with. If you do have a honey bee swarm which can be removed safely, we have several members who volunteer their services.
Please follow the advice on this page or if you are still unsure, then go to – https://www.bbka.org.uk/what-bee-is-this
Bumblebees are often confused with honeybees. However they are rounder, larger and furrier and come with a variety of coloured stripes across the end of their tails. Are they in a bird box, under the decking, in the compost. Bumblebees are important pollinators. Leave the nests alone if possible. They will die out at the end of summer and will cause no further problems. Bumblebees rarely sting or attack people or animals and should therefore not be disturbed. There are 24 different types of native bumblebee, all of which vary in size and colour. Beekeepers are unable to assist in the removal of bumblebees.
Is it bright yellow with black stripes? Very smooth, mainly yellow with black stripes? Is it in the attic of your house? Are they coming from a round nest in a tree? Is there a nest in the shed? Do they have a high-pitched buzz? Are they after all things sweet? Then these are probably wasps. Beekeepers are unable to assist in the removal of wasps.
There are over 250 types of bees in the UK but there is only one European honey bee (Apis mellifera). Honey bees are small and vary in colour from golden brown to almost black.
Solitary bees - Are there lots of small bees popping in and out of the wall or very small holes in the ground? Do they have a "reddy/brown" bottom? Are they almost black? These are solitary bees, of which there are 225 species recorded in the UK and they pose no threat or harm to you, your family or pets. Solitary bees are important pollinators and should be left alone. Their numbers will decrease over the summer and their nests should be left alone. Beekeepers are unable to assist in the removal of solitary bees.
