Bees
With the weather warming up and flowers beginning to bloom, there is an abundance of nectar and pollen which then in turn stimulates a bee colony to increase in size. With the bees reproducing so rapidly in the spring and summer months it can cause overcrowding within the hive. When overcrowding occurs, the original queen and half of her colony will leave the hive to form a new colony. This is known as swarming, which is a natural reproductive life cycle of the bee which will happen once a year.
Before leaving their old hive, the bees will gorge themselves on honey, which they then live on until a new hive has been established. This makes them non aggressive, unsless they are provoked. When the swarm emerges from the hive, at first they will only travel a short distance. Here they will cluster around the queen and send scout bees to locate a suitable nest location.
Honey bees are cavity nesters so therefore will build their nest within an enclosed space with a single entrance hole. This can spell disaster for a homeowner if the bees take up nest in places such as your chimney, a hollow cavity wall, composte bins or under porches.
If you have a nest within or close to your home, never attempt to move the swarm by trying to smoke them out, poke the hive or even trying to hose the hive away. This in turn will only provoke the bees into defence and you will more then likely be stung.
It is easier to remove a swarm cluster before it has made a permanent colony on your property. If you do have a swarm cluster or an established hive on your property, never attempt to remove it yourself. Call SWATAPEST on 9313 8484 to discuss ways on how to treat the problem.
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