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.
Swarm removalCall 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:
Filter
| Area & Availability | Name | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Hamilton Gordonton Taupiri Nth Waikato | Bill Smith | 021 274 4256 |
| Otorohanga | Carol Dodunski | 0212166653 |
| Hamilton North/Rototuna/Huntington/Flags | Frank Jeanplong | 02108215185 |
| Flagstaff, Rototuna, Te Rapa & Surrounds | Garry Shaw | 027 492 6974 |
| Ngaruawahia | Richard Wakelin | 0274991428 |
| Pirongia or Te Awamutu - anytime. | Ursula Edgington | 0272905710 |
| Morrinsville | William Couzens | 02108856321 |
| Hamilton City & surrounds | Stephen Lovelock | 0273229302 |
| Te Awamutu/Pirongia | Lindy Bennett | 0273245447 |
| Hamilton & Surrounding area | Tim O'Neill | 027 451 0573 |
| Cambridge karapiro | Ros Clapham | +64211111588 |
| Hamilton, available anytime | Simone Sheffield | 021 183 7392 |
| Morrinsville, Te Aroha, Paeroa, Orini. | Pieter Van Der Westhuizen | 021 392 740 |
| Hamilton City East of River | Carl Saunders | 0274 886 713 |
| Hamilton and surrounding | Brendon Muir | 027 245 3008 |
| Hamilton/ surrounding | Brett Coxhead | 021 288 8536 |
| Hamilton (call any time!) | Nicholas Sheffield | 027 836 5663 |
| Huntly/ Te Akau / Naike /Glenn Murray | Alexander Stoehr | 021737867 |
| Ham, West/South to Te A. Have a Bee Vac | Neil Johnstone | 027 276 9749 |
| Hamilton, Nagaruawahia, Matangi | Dean Andrews | 021 923 507 |
| Ngaruawahia | Sarah Cross | 027 637 6289 |
| Cambridge,TeAwamutu,Hamilton | David Blair | 027 459 8645 |
| Hamilton city, whatawhata, waipa.Anytime | Malachai Ensing | 021 0241 4985 |
| Cambridge | Jenna Lentfer | 027 346 0666 |
| Huntly Taupiri Morrinsville Hamilton | Bryan Scott | 021 179 3025 |
| Hamilton and surrounds | Paula Moneypenny | 0274712165 |
| Hamilton Waikato Region | Dara Dimitrov | 021 158 7478 |
| Hamilton, after work hours | Michael Kahan | 021 272 3080 |
| Hamilton, taupiri, ngaruawahia,Cambridge | Rob Craven | 0211865364 |