Have you found a swarm?
To contact a beekeeper in your area, using the form below.
If there is any danger to your own safety or public safety please call 000 immediately.
If you are unsure, or need any help from the ABA please contact us at biosecurity@beekeepers.asn.au
Beekeepers
If you are a member of Amateur Beekeepers Australia, and would like to be listed to collect swarms,
please click Beekeeper Login to activate your Swarm System account.
Found a swarm?
If you have a bee swarm in your backyard or local area please do not try and kill or interfere with the bees - you are likely to anger the bees and get stung. The bees will not harm you if they are left alone!
Remember the important role bees play in the pollination of agricultural crops, such as many of our nuts, fruit and vegetables.
Why not try to contact a beekeeper to have the swarm removed and placed in a beehive?
Contacting a beekeeper
Many amateur beekeepers will collect swarms in their local area as a community service. The beekeeper will need to know the exact location of the swarm, its size and how long it has been there. They will need to be able to get a beebox to the swarm and may leave the box there for a day or two. They will probably collect the bee box at night. Remember to check to see if they charge any fee to cover expenses.
Bees swarm when they feel overcrowded. It is a natural occurrence.
A swarm occurs when the queen bee, accompanied by several thousand worker bees leaves the nest (wild) or beehive and searches for a new home.
Upon leaving the nest or hive, the swarm will often only travel a short distance (up to 100m) and gather on a nearby tree branch, house eave or other handy structure while scout bees travel further afield to locate a permanent site.