Bees in a Boiler
#Honey bee swarming really has get off to a flying start this year.
Am receiving an increased number of calls regarding ‘established’ new honey bee colonies from recent swarms, some are in quite interesting locations.
When referring to ‘new colonies’, the reference is to swarms that have settled into their new home recently and only had time to build three or four honey combs.
Swarm or new colony, the main consideration!
The most important consideration is that bees in swarm have no brood (eggs in comb) so amongst other things, have no need to defend their young, a new colony on the other hand, with honey comb containing brood will defend the brood vigorously.
Appreciate that from a distance you cannot tell if there is brood in the honey comb, hence assume there is brood present, be safe and do not approach.
The poor plumber who opened the boiler in the photo was stung eight times and is quite poorly.
So, whilst I always advise folks that bees in swarm are generally in a good mood and rarely sting unless provoked, do steer clear of newly established colonies (i.e. with comb), they are not in swarm, they will see an attempt to remove them as an attack and will defend themselves.
Always get in touch with your local beekeeping association, they usually have a list of members willing to come out and retrieve the honey bees.
Many beekeepers only collect swarms so be prepared to hear that you may need to get the pest control folks in, however! I will do everything I can to retrieve a honey bee colony, irrespective of whether a swarm, newly established or a fully blown colony.
These wonderful creatures are all worth saving.
I’m in Milton Keynes council flat and have a swarm in my boiler….. 2nd floor
Need them removed but council tried to block them in…..which in turn they are noe coming in my kitchen more and more…..
Chris,
The council try their best but usually refer folks to a local beekeeping association.
You could try the local beekeeping association. (Link below).
If it is a case of simply turning the boiler off and taking the cover off, that is not too much work.
However! Be aware that many beekeepers do not like dismantling things to get to a colony, (liability) and they will most likely be an established colony (Not a new swarm) meaning they will put up quite some resistance!
To find a swarm collector scroll down this page and enter your postcode.
https://www.bbka.org.uk/swarm
They may not wish to remove a swarm from a boiler (Bear in mind they remove swarms for free).
So you may well need to press the council to get an ‘ethical’ pest controller in.
Unfortunately, unless you ask for ethical, they may simply send a regular pest controller who will kill the bees.
The problem with this approach is they usually leave the bodies and honeycomb behind, this then goes on to petrify and……well you can imagine the rest.
Hope the above information is of some use.
All the best
BeekeeperTom