Swarm Help

If you think you have a swarm please follow the steps below…

Step 1

The Association can assist with swarms of honey bees or colonies of bees that need relocating. We do not deal with wasps or bumble bees.

A swarm is when a queen has left her hive with some of the bees to find a new home. They will hang in bushes in a large cluster sometimes for 2 or 3 days while the scout bees look for a permanent home. When the scouts find a home they return to the cluster and move off together and take up residence.

This is often chimneys and roof spaces or wall cavities. The Association cannot climb on roofs or climb to great heights for insurance purposes.

To gather a swarm or a resident colony of bees the beekeeper will need to find the queen bee. She will be deep within the cluster. Therefore we need easy access to the bees. We cannot take roofs, walls and chimneys apart so please consider this.

Often lighting a smokey fire using damp grass or citronella near the bees can cause them to temporarily leave a roof space or chimney. They will then re-group outside. This is the time to have a beekeeper there as they are easy to collect and rehome when outside.

Honey Bees are very safe when swarming so please do not be alarmed – just contact the Association and we will be happy to help.

Step 2

If you are in the Lampeter area, please contact our Swarm Control Officer Steve Dart on 07429 205040.

Martin will organise for one of our swarm catchers in your area to come and deal with the swarm. Please be aware that not all swarms will be readily accessible and action can only be taken when a suitable on-site risk assessment has been carried out.

Please understand that we are all volunteers, and may not always be available, but please leave a message and we will contact you as soon as we can.

Step 3

If you are in the Aberystwyth Area please contact the Aberystwyth Beekeepers’ Association on 01970 832359.

If you are in the Cardigan area, please contact the Teifiside Beekeepers’ Association.

For other areas of Wales, you will find details of beekeepers’ associations here.

If you don’t think they are honeybees, click here for further guidance from the BBA to help you identify the insects.

Alternatively, in an emergency, or for help in dealing with a wasp nest, you can contact your local authority’s Environmental Health department and ask for pest control.