DON'T DESTROY SWARMS
Swarming bees are a natural occurrence, and bees are least likely to sting when swarming.
Encountering a bee swarm for the first time can be alarming. Bees tend to swarm near their hives or honeycombs, so if a swarm is visible then a nest is probably nearby. Swarms are usually not aggressive unless provoked, so it is important to keep a good distance from the swarm. If the bees feel threatened, they will use their stingers and release a pheromone to alert the other bees of the threat resulting in a large bee attack.
Swarming is the natural means of reproduction of honey bee colonies. A swarm of bees may frighten people, however swarming bees are usually not aggressive. Unless collected by a beekeeper swarm clusters will move on and find a suitable nesting location in a day or two.
Call a local beekeeping club and a grateful beekeeper will likely collect bees for free to establish a new hive. We have list of club members below who will collect swarms for free.
It is almost impossible to remove a swarm from walls or ceilings, you will probablty have to call an exterminator to remove a swarm from inside a wall or ceiling cavity.
However - some of our catchers listed below may be able to help.
We have club member beekeepers all over the Waikato who will collect swarms for free.
If you find a swarm in Hamilton or the Waikato area please contact one of the following:
Filter
Area & Availability | Name | Phone |
---|---|---|
Pirongia or Te Awamutu - anytime. | Ursula Edgington | 0272905710 |
Hamilton, Whatawhata, Ngahinapouri, Te A | Teresa Gibbison | 022 166 4689 |
Huntly/ Te Akau / Naike /Glenn Murray | Alexander Stoehr | 021737867 |
Waikato, all around | Anthea Clarke | 021 035 8728 |
Te Awamutu and surrounds | David Horne | 021 618 525 |
Flagstaff, Rototuna, Te Rapa & Surrounds | Garry Shaw | 027 492 6974 |
Hamilton, Nagaruawahia, Matangi & Raglan | Dean Andrews | 021 923 507 |
Huntly Taupiri Morrinsville Hamilton | Bryan Scott | 021 179 3025 |
Hamilton (call any time!) | Nicholas Sheffield | 027 836 5663 |
Morrinsville, Te Aroha, Te Hoe, Orini | Pieter Van Der Westhuizen | 021 392 740 |
Pokeno, Pukekohe, Te Kauwhata, Tuakau | Cindy van Zyl | 021 0232 8659 |
Hamilton, available anytime | Simone Sheffield | 021 183 7392 |
Hamilton Gordonton Taupiri Nth Waikato | Bill Smith | 021 274 4256 |
Greater Waikato | Crystal Lange | 0225478096 |
Hamilton & Surrounding area | Tim O'Neill | 027 451 0573 |
Hamilton and surrounding | Brendon Muir | 027 245 3008 |
Hamilton city, whatawhata, waipa.Anytime | Malachai Ensing | 021 0241 4985 |
Hamilton Waikato Region | Dara Dimitrov | 021 158 7478 |
Cambridge, Matangi, Tamahere & surrounds | George Payne | 0274 714 907 |
Hamilton, anytime | Vicky Willison | 027 254 9119 |
Cambridge | Kobus Kok | 021 942 183 |
Hamilton & surrounding area | Tim Pearson | 021 128 8520 |
Ham, West/South to Te A. Have a Bee Vac | Neil Johnstone | 027 276 9749 |
Taupiri, North Waikato area | Allen Godfrey | 027 611 2958 |
Hamilton North/Rototuna/Huntington | Frank Jeanplong | 02108215185 |
Huntly Hamilton Te Kauwhwata Pukekohe | Clint Hackworth | 021 413 563 |
Arapuni and surrounds. | David Mans | 021 178 9478 |