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SWARM INFORMATION

Swarming is a natural instinct of a bee colony, and a part of their reproductive cycle, leaving the hive to establish another colony elsewhere. 

We have members who can help relocate a swarm.


Beekeepers may charge a call-out fee, an hourly rate, or a flat rate for their time and travel costs, which is less than typically charged by a pest controller.  Charges should be negotiated before the work commences.  Some collectors may ask you to sign a simple agreement that protects them from liability.


Our swarm collectors will not remove or extract wasp nests.

If you have a wasp nest, call an exterminator.

These images are examples of wasp nests. Bees will never nest in the ground.



Below are examples of swarms of bees. If you see a ball of bees hanging from a branch or any other structure, this is a swarm.

If they’re undisturbed, they’re not aggressive!




Swarm collector names, numbers & service areas

* indicates that the collector is able to do more difficult removals.

ADRIAN MAKAROWSKY
0431 952 659

Western & Central suburbs

ANDREW JOHNSON*
0412 467 025

Adelaide Hills, Eastern, Western &  Southern suburbs including Fleurieu Peninsula.

ANDREW THOMPSON
0458 686 036

Northern suburbs, Salisbury & Playford  Council

CRISPIN BOXHALL
0477 172 171

Adelaide Hills and foothills.

FRANK LIEMAREFF
0411 354 517

Playford Council Area (within 20 kms), Ingle Farm, Mawson Lakes & Parafield Gardens

JASON ELLIOTT
8280 7664 OR 0412 110 310

Gawler, Humbug scrub, Kersbrook, One Tree Hill

MATT
0484 503 359

North of CBD through to Barossa region

JOSH BOTTRALL
0439 815 806

Barossa District

JACK GRIEVE
0431147334

Inner West Suburbs

JOSH D’AMBROSIO
0455 882 820

Eastern suburbs, foothills and Unley area

LEON VONOW*
0404 501 836

Blackwood, Bellevue Heights, Marion, Glenelg and Brighton

MICHAEL JENKINS*
0418 841 989

Western & Central suburbs

RICHARD MAYNE*
0429 709 040

Southern Suburbs & Fleurieu Peninsula

KYAH DEGOUMOIS
0459 148 725

Gawler, Mid north, northern suburbs and the Adelaide hills.

DAVIDE STELLA
0412 818 039

Eastern Suburbs and Adelaide Hills

ZARA JONES
0403440921

Eastern Suburbs and Adelaide Hills

JEVAN LETINIC
0415 809 793

Adelaide Hills and Southern Regions

SIMON GERBLICH
0405 459 274

Mitchell Park, South West & South East.


About Bee Swarming

One of the main reasons for bees swarming is overcrowding of the hive due to the queen laying more eggs thanks to warm weather and an increase of flowers and pollen. Honey bees are the only type of bees that swarm.

Swarming season can begin as early as August and run through until February, March. The queen and anywhere between 5,000 to 20,000 worker bees will leave the hive and land in gardens or sometimes in even more obscure places, a post, tree or fence in your backyard.

Once the swarm of bees has landed and settled, they will form a tight ball around the queen, keeping her warm and ensuring she is safe. Around that is a one-metre or more wide body of flying bees (also foraging bees flying to and fro, collecting nectar and water).

WHAT TO DO

  • Don’t worry, bees in a swarm are NOT aggressive or inclined to sting unless provoked.

  • Stay inside till the swarm has clustered and most of the bees have stopped flying, watch for foraging bees flying to and from the swarm as they may not see you and get caught in your hair or clothing.

  • Wear footwear to protect your feet in case some bees have landed on the ground.

DON’T

  • Attempt to move the swarm by hosing it, throwing stones at it, or shooting it with guns.

  • Spray it with insecticide. This can make the bees sick or at the very worst kill them.

  • Assume they are wasps; bees and wasps can look similar.

  • Try to remove a swarm yourself.

DO

  • Remember, much of our food is derived from European plants and need well managed European bees for pollination. Poorly managed and feral European bees can be a nuisance and can compete with native bees. The BSSA supports the responsible management of European honey bees.

  • Look at the BSSA Swarm list for an experienced beekeeper near you; a list of beekeepers who will collect and relocate your swarm can be found above

  • Note that bees found on private property or a road verge, please contact your local Council. Most have a “Swarm Removal List” or a Community Information Directory which lists community based organisations.

  • Know that if your swarm is located in a chimney or wall cavity, it is most likely that a pest control operation may need to be called. This may mean that the bees will need to be killed, so getting advice from a trained swarm collector first is advised.


Beekeepers’ Society of South Australia Inc.
P.O. Box 283, Fullarton SA 5063
office@bees.org.au
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