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:
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Area & Availability | Name | Phone |
---|---|---|
Hamilton and surrounding | Brendon Muir | 027 245 3008 |
Hamilton and surrounds | Brett Coxhead | 021 288 8536 |
South Hamilton, Cambridge - Most days | James & Corey Regnerus-Kell | 021 795 333 |
Hamilton Gordonton Taupiri & Nth Waikato | Bill Smith | 021 274 4256 |
Morrinsville surrounds | Michael Hagarty | 027 515 6772 |
Cambridge, Matangi, Tamahere & surrounds | George Payne | 0274 714 907 |
Ham, West/South to Te A. Have a Bee Vac | Neil Johnstone | 0272769749 |
Ohaupo | Maurie Joyce | 027 474 6012 |
Huntly Taupiri Morrinsville Hamilton | Bryan Scott | 021 179 3025 |
Morrinsville, Te Aroha, Te Hoe, Orini | Pieter Van Der Westhuizen | 021 392 740 |
Ngahinapouri waipa | Lee Wilson | 027 322 6899 |
Hamilton City East of River | Carl Saunders | 0274 886 713 |
Te Awamutu area | Malcolm Perano | 021 67 88 30 |
Hamilton and nearby - phone anytime. | David Mans | 021 178 9478 |
Orini - Ruakura - Tauhei -Tahuna | Crystal Lange | 029 957 8319 |
Flagstaff, Rototuna, Te Rapa & Surrounds | Garry Shaw | 027 492 6974 |
Hamilton & Surrounding area | Tim O'Neill | 027 451 0573 |