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Swarms

Swarming is part of the natural reproductive life cycle of honey bees. When a bee colony becomes too large it divides by swarming. Here in Victoria the swarming season is usually between September and December. However, occasionally colonies may swarm at other times. Warmer weather, combined with an abundance of nectar and pollen, stimulate the colony to increase in population. Swarms usually emerge from the colonies between 10am and 2pm on warm sunny days.

Bee Swarm Collection

A swarm of honey bees will cluster temporarily at one location, often hanging off the branch of a tree or bush, while a few scout bees locate a new home. When a suitable home is found the swarm moves as a group to that new site. This is usually after a few hours or up to a couple of days.

Bee Nest Removal

Bees that have made a permanent nest in and around the house are often not tolerated by the occupants of that building. To ensure that feral, abandoned or unwanted nesting colonies of honey bees are not unnecessarily destroyed, some members of The Beekeepers Club are willing to offer a Bee Removal service.

Removing bees nesting in buildings can be very difficult and sometimes costly.  Where there is no economical method of removing the bees, it may be necessary to destroy them. In such situations the services of a licensed Pest Control operator is required.


Swarm Collectors

To ensure that unwanted honey bees are not unnecessarily destroyed, members of The Beekeepers Club offer a swarm collection service, as well as the removal of bee nests where possible. To assist in finding a nearby swarm collector, see the list below.

Swarm Collection List - BE SURE TO CONFIRM IF THE SWARM COLLECTOR CHARGES A FEE FOR COLLECTION

Beekeeper Phone  SuburbNotes
 Jennifer McInnes  0425 738 188 Abbotsford Swarms only 
 Kevin Sermon0400 060 244

Albert Park to Cranbourne, Dromana to Ringwood, Doncaster, Cheltenham to Werribee, most suburbs

 Swarms and Nests
 Laszlo Kun0423 256 231Beaconsfield, Upper Beaconsfield, Berwick, Harkaway, Guys Hill, Narre Warren, Narre Warren North Swarms and Nests
 Chris Davenport0425 708 382Boroondara and Whitehorse Swarms and Nests
 John Treloar 0409 164 234 Camberwell and surrounding suburbs Swarms only
 Peter Nyers0403 766 963Cranbourne, Cranbourne West, Cranbourne North, Botanic Ridge, Clyde, Clyde North, Narre Warren, Narre Warren South, Berwick Swarms and Nests
 Craig McCullough0450066188Croydon, Ringwood, Chirnside Park, Bayswater, Boronia  Swarms and Nests
 Andrew Stanish

0418 521 869

 Diamond Creek/Eltham Swarms and Nests
 Walt McIvor0419 309 677Doncaster, Templestowe, Donvale, Bulleen, Mitcham, Nunawading, Vermont, Ringwood, Forest Hill, Warrandyte Swarms and Nests
 David Lam0418 327 397Eltham Swarms only
 Gavin Preston 0402 833 228 Forest Hill Swarms and Nests
 Tom Sizer0429 862 631Forest Hill and surrounding suburbs Swarms and Nests
 Herbert Kieleithner  0405 533 623 Glen Waverley, Mt Waverley, Wantirna, Scoresby Swarms and Nests 
 Jonathan Thom0448 977 540Greensborough Swarms only
 Kent Henderson 0417 599 548

Hawthorn East

 Swarms only 
 Andrew Bailey 0418 450 689Hawthorn, Kew, Camberwell Swarms only 
 Shane O’Brien  0419 501 194  Healesville, Yarra Valley Swarms only 
 Mat Lumalasi 0414 406 136 Heidelberg Swarms and Nests
 Susan Zuber 0413 698 140 Kinglake Swarms only
 Peter Milic 0418 340 093 Mitcham Swarms only
 Keith Piper 9874 8634 Mitcham Swarms only
 Morwenna Griffiths 0401 491 051 Mt Waverley, Burwood Swarms only
 Ashley Barrow 0414 366 633 Narre Warren Swarms and Nests
 Andrew Janiak 0418 567 007Northern suburbs Swarms only
 Kathryn Goldsmith  0409 502 010 Nunawading Swarms only 
 Rei Collaco  0458 000 426  Statewide Swarms and Nests 
 Amy James0425 774 774Warrandyte, Eltham, Greensborough, Doncaster, Doreen Swarms only
 Brett Campbell0408 863 452Wheelers Hill Swarms only
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