Bees swarm from mid spring, through summer. Usually swarming takes places because the colony (hive) has grown too large, and some bees will divide off and leave to find another site to establish a new colony. There will be a queen and a good few hundred (at least) workers. It may be the old queen, if the hive has decided she is not producing brood as well as expected, or if the existing queen is still vigorous, the queen may be new.

Often the air will turn dark with swarming bees. They will seek temporary respite, often clustered in the branches of a back yard shrub. Although they are usually “intoxicated” with nectar and not interested in attacking or stinging, it is best to leave them well alone, and call a beekeeper.

During the time they are clustered outside, scouts will be looking for a more permanent home. In the wild, this will often be in the hollow of a tall tree. However, with much clearing of native forests for housing and other development, it can sometimes be difficult to find suitable tree hollows, and a decision may be made to establish the colony inside cavity walls of houses.

Sometimes cavity walls are only a temporary stop over and they may be gone by the next mid morning, however if the habitat suits the bees, it will certainly become a permanent home. Once this happens, the workers will begin to manufacture honeycomb and produce honey and queen will commence egg laying.

It is never a great idea to encourage bees establish themselves in cavity walls. There is always the risk of people and pets being stung and the danger of anaphylactic shock, and after a while the smell of honey will tend to permeate the house. The aroma can, after a while become rather sickly.

Pest Control Solutions

1. Although not easy to do, beekeepers are sometimes able to remove the bees from the wall. Often they are not interested, especially if the bees have not come from a professional hive, as wild bees tend to be more aggressive.

2. Call in a pest controller. Not all pest controllers will attend to bee problems, as almost invariably they will be stung. Although it is not a pleasant experience to harm beneficial insects, the pest controller will have little choice but to destroy the hive.

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