Bee Swarm Collection

Beekeepers should be called to capture swarms

Bee swarm in treeDON'T DESTROY SWARMS
Swarming bees are a natural occurrence, and bees are least likely to sting when swarming.

Safety Around Bee Swarms

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.

Bee swarm on gateSwarm removal

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.

Swarms in Walls or Ceilings

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.

Free Bee Swarm Collection in Hamilton /Waikato

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 & AvailabilityNamePhone
Huntly to Pokeno and surrounding areas Clint Hackworth 021 413 563
Chartwell, Rototuna, Huntington, Pukete Graham Hardaker 027 358 8412
Cambridge, Matangi, Tamahere & surrounds George Payne 0274 714 907
South Hamilton, Cambridge - Most days James & Corey Regnerus-Kell 021 795 888
Piopio Sunday(whole day),M/W/F 5pm John Rey Patnugot 0223536095
Hamilton (call any time!) Nicholas Sheffield 027 836 5663
Huntly Taupiri Morrinsville Hamilton Bryan Scott 021 179 3025
Taupiri, North Waikato area Allen Godfrey 027 611 2958
Hamilton and surrounding Brendon Muir 027 245 3008
Orini - Ruakura - Tauhei -Tahuna Crystal Lange 029 957 8319
Morrinsville, Te Aroha, Te Hoe, Orini Pieter Van Der Westhuizen 021 392 740
Ngahinapouri waipa Lee Wilson 027 322 6899
Hamilton & Surrounding area Tim O'Neill 027 451 0573
Cambridge Kobus Kok 021 942 183
Waihi/Paeroa & surrounding areas-anytime Dan Wood 027 539 2580
Te Kowhai and surrounds Mike Campbell 021 281 0506
Hamilton Gordonton Taupiri & Nth Waikato Bill Smith 021 274 4256
Te Awamutu area Malcolm Perano 021 67 88 30
Hamilton/Tauwhare Area Jared Wilson 022 028 8160
Ham, West/South to Te A. Have a Bee Vac Neil Johnstone 027 276 9749
Ohaupo Maurie Joyce 027 474 6012
Flagstaff, Rototuna, Te Rapa & Surrounds Garry Shaw 027 492 6974
Hamilton City East of River Carl Saunders 0274 886 713

Bee Swarm Collection in other areas