Rother Pest Control offer bee swarms collection within our service area – That’s Hastings, Eastbourne, Rye, Bexhill, Hailsham, Crowborough and anywhere in between. We attend as quick as we can, and can normally offer a same day collection service.
If you have a swarm of bees that has arrived at your property, call us today on 01424 559494
Our standard bee swarms collection service is free of charge, provided the following conditions are met:
1. It must be a swarm of honey bees. There are many types of bees, so it is vital to ensure that they are honey bees.
2. It must be a swarm that has recently arrived at the property (if it’s a long-established colony in a chimney stack, for example, then see ‘bee cut-outs’ below).
3. The bee swarms must be able to be collected. Being in a tree, or on the ground is OK, so long as we can get to it. If the swarm is hidden, and inaccessible, then we wouldn’t be able to assist.
4. The swarm must be in our service area.
All the swarms we collect are passed onto experienced beekeepers who will then house them, and look after them. Wherever possible, we will make every effort to save as many bees as we can.
How to spot a Honey Bee Swarm:
These examples are in general terms, and each swarm may be slightly different.
Firstly, look at the bees, do they look like bees, or are they wasps? Or Bumble Bees? Google Honey Bee images to see what honey bees look like. We do get called to alot of ‘bee swarms’ when in fact it’s Bumble bees, which can be left alone (unless posing a risk to health).
A swarm will generally be clustered together. They may choose to hang from a tree branch, bush, or wood hand rail.
There will normally be alot of bees in a swarm. It is highly likely that there will be thousands in there.
If the bees are flying out of holes in the ground, or small holes in mortar, these may not be honey bees, unless they meet the requirements above. There are bees that live solitary lives in small pencil sized holes in the ground, or brick work.
Bee Cut-Outs:
If a swarm of bees has moved into your property, set up home, and been there for quite some time, then a bee cut out may be required to relocate them.
Bees will reuse old nests, so even if one colony dies out, unless the comb is removed, and the property secured, a new swarm can move in the following year.
A bee cut-out involves exposing the nest, and removing it all. Each job is quoted on its own merits, based on how much work is involved in the removal. Typically, we only remove, and the putting good would be down to the property owner to sort.
If the colony is killed with powder (how we kill wasp nests), then all the wax comb and honey are left in the cavity. If this is in a house, over time the honey can escape and start running down walls. The wax will also encourage a wide range of insects and rodents who eat and live in it.
FAQs
What do you do with the bee swarms you collect?
All the bees are passed onto bee keepers, who then place them in a hive. The bees are kept, and looked after, and used to help produce local honey.
Can you collect bee swarms from commercial premises?
Yes, we can. Provided we can safely get to them, we can collect from many commercial premises.
The bees have gone in a hole, and are flying in and out, can you still help?
We can still help, but it probably won’t be a free collection. This sort of situation would apply more to the ‘bee cut out’ service that we mentioned above.
I think they are honey bees, but I’m not sure… Can you help?
Yes, absolutely. Firstly, being as safe as possible, try to get as clear a picture of them as you can. Trying to snap one whilst flying isn’t the best thing to do. Also, if its a swarm, try to get a picture of the cluster of bees that are hanging or gathered somewhere. Next, head over to the Contact Us page, and send the pictures or videos to us. You can do this by WhatsApp. We’ll then hopefully be able to ID and let you know what can be done.