SwarmsSwarming is part of the natural reproductive life cycle of honeybees. 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.
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Bee Swarm CollectionA swarm of honeybees 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 RemovalBees 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 honeybees
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 honeybees 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
| Name | Phone | Suburb | Notes |
| Jennifer McInnes | 0425 738188 | Abbotsford | Swarms only |
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Janneke Storteboom |
0418 526 524 | Ashwood | Swarms only |
| Laszlo Kun | 0423 256 231 | Berwick, Beaconsfield, Upper Beaconsfield | Swarms and nests |
| William Stapelfeldt | 0466 317 118 | Blackburn | Swarms only |
| Andrew Sankey | 0419 390 060 | Blackburn | Swarms only |
| Anthony Loie | 0434 396 949 | Blackburn and surrounding suburbs | Swarms only |
| Anthony McGrath | 0423 354 015 | Box Hill | Swarms only |
| John Treloar | 0409 164 234 | Camberwell | Swarms only |
| Peter Nyers | 0403 766 963 | Cranbourne, C. West, C. North, Botanic Ridge, Clyde, Clyde North, Narre Warren, Narre Warren Sth, Berwick | Swarms and Nests |
| Andrew Stanish |
0418 521 869 |
Diamond Creek/Eltham | Swarms and Nests |
| Gavin Preston | 0402 833 228 | Forest Hill | Swarms and Nests |
| Shayne Stanley | 0410 690 562 | Glen Waverley | Swarms only |
| Herbert Kieleithner | 0405 533 623 | Glen Waverley, Mt Waverley, Wantirna, Scoresby | Swarms and Nests |
| Kent Henderson | 0417 599 548 |
Hawthorn East | 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 |
| Geoff Neville |
0412 613 135 |
Manningham | Swarms and Nests |
| Alex Winston | 0411 799 256 | McKinnon | Swarms only |
| Peter Milic | 0418 340 093 | Mitcham | Swarms only |
| Keith Piper | 9874 8634 | Mitcham | |
| Morwenna Griffiths | 0401 491 051 | Mt Waverley, Burwood | Swarms only |
| Ashley Barrow | 0414 366 633 | Narre Warren | Swarms and Nests |
| Bryce Copeland | 0484 185 601 | Nillumbik Shire | Swarms and some Nests |
| Kathryn Goldsmith | 0409 502 010 | Nunawading | Swarms only |
| Stuart Stone | 0408 764 045 | Park Orchards | Swarms only |
| Jacqui Dunbar | 0410 102 200 | Research, Eltham, Lower Plenty, Yallambie, Bundoora & Preston | Swarms only |
| Kate Langford | 0435 372 337 | Research, Eltham, Eltham North, Kangaroo Ground, Diamond Ck, Montmorency, Briar Hill, Warrandyte | Swarms and Nests |
| Rei Collaco | 0458 000 426 | State Wide | Swarms and Nests |
| Maureen Koegel | 0425 780 456 | Warrandyte | Swarms only |