Think you’ve found a honey bee swarm?
Seeing a swarm can be surprising, but swarming is a natural part of the honey bee life cycle. A swarm will often gather temporarily on a tree, bush, fence or similar surface while searching for a new home.
Keep children and pets at a safe distance, do not spray or disturb the bees, and contact the nearest beekeeper listed below. If possible, send them a photograph and your location.
Accessible Swarms
If the bees are clustered on an accessible tree, bush, fence or other open surface, one of our volunteer beekeepers may be able to collect them. Contact the nearest beekeeper first and, if possible, send a photograph.
Bees inside a building
Bees inside a roof, chimney, fascia, attic or wall cavity require specialist assessment and are not normally suitable for collection by our volunteer swarm collectors. Specialist removal may involve equipment and associated costs.
Tony Lyons can provide advice if you are unsure about bees located inside a building. Call 086 851 5964. Alternatively, Swarms.ie provides specialist bee-removal services nationwide.
Is it a honey bee swarm?
Honey bees, bumblebees, wasps and solitary bees require different responses. A honey bee swarm normally appears as a large, tightly clustered mass of bees. Bumblebees usually live in much smaller nests, while wasps look smoother and more brightly yellow.
Local Swarm Collectors
Contact the collector nearest to you first. Our volunteer beekeepers can assist with accessible honey bee swarms—for example, bees clustered on a tree, bush or fence.
If possible, send a clear photograph together with the exact location of the swarm.