A protected pollinator rather than a pest — a settled swarm should be relocated by someone equipped to do it, not sprayed.
A swarm resting on a tree or wall is usually in transit and may move on by itself within a day or two. A colony that has moved into a wall cavity, chimney or water tank housing is a different matter — it will build comb there and stay.
Bees sting only when they feel the colony is threatened, but a disturbed colony can sting en masse, which is dangerous for children and for anyone with an allergy. Comb left inside a wall after a colony is killed also attracts other pests and can stain through the plaster.
Wherever it is possible, we arrange for the colony to be removed and relocated alive rather than destroyed. Where a colony is inside a structure the comb has to come out with it, otherwise the honey left behind ferments and draws ants, cockroaches and more bees.
Practical steps that make a repeat infestation far less likely after treatment.
Seal openings into wall cavities, chimneys and water tank housings before swarming season
Leave a resting swarm alone and keep people away — most move on within a day or two
Don't spray a colony; a dead colony inside a wall leaves comb that attracts other pests
Call for relocation early — a young colony is far easier to move alive
The things people ask us most before booking this treatment.
Not if it can be avoided. Bees are pollinators and we arrange for a colony to be removed and relocated alive wherever that's possible. Destroying a colony is a last resort, not the default.
A resting swarm is usually in transit and often moves on by itself within a day or two. Keep people and pets away and leave it alone. It becomes urgent when the colony moves into a wall cavity, chimney or tank housing, because then it will build and stay.
Because the honey ferments once the colony is gone. It seeps through plaster, stains the wall and draws ants, cockroaches and new swarms to the same spot. If a colony is removed from a cavity, the comb has to come out with it.
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