Are UK Honey Bees Protected By Law?
No - but in our opinion, Honey Bee control and removal of bees nests and colonies should be tightly regulated.
Why are some honey bees killed?
Not everyone loves bees. Those who suffer both phobias and Anaphylactic shock from bee stings, including adults and young children, need to be protected. In the vast majority of cases, probably 95%, the bees disembark before we arrive or are collected to be re-homed in hives throughout your local countryside.
We have come to realise, that where we don't control the final 5% safely and sensitively, there are plenty of inappropriate chemicals that amateurs can purchase, to kill the bees themselves. This poses a greater risk to others, and often contaminates surrounding hives, causing untold damage to local bee populations.
For us, we must stress control is always a last resort and requires householder consent and written instruction during the inspection visit before we carry out any treatment.
How Dangerous Are Honey Bees?
Being equipped with a sting makes angry bees a formidable force of nature. They are often only aggressive when threatened or disturbed, however you must remember that a compact, settled swarm in a shrub or on a fence post etc, wont be protecting any brood is unlikely to attack if left alone.
An unsettled, fragmented swarm with lots of frantic activity across a broad area is likely to be more risky. What's needed, is a visit by one of our experts. Very often by the time we get to you, the swarm has flown off.
Are Honey Bee Stings Dangerous?
Honey bee venom is not pleasant, and if you do get stung, it's important to remove the sting by scraping it of with a nail or credit card as soon as possible. We all react differently to stings, and some people can die from a single sting. This is called Anaphylactic Shock.
What should I Do If I Am Stung By a Honey Bee?
How Many Honey Bees Are In A Swarm?
Most honey bee swarms will contain between 10000 and 30000 bees although swarms with numbers of an estimated 100000 are not unheard of.
Why Do Honey Bees swarm?
Honey bees swarm when a new queen is produced in the hive. One of the first tasks of a new queen is to to kill the old queen! When the old queen realises her days are numbered, she abandons the colony and many of the bees already in the hive go with her, while some remain with the new queen.
Where Do Honey Be Swarms Go?
Honey bee swarms will move from one place to another, while scout bees search frantically for a suitable new home. This might be a hole in a tree or a chimney! The best option is that they are fortunate enough to be intercepted by an experienced bee keeper and re-hived.
