More information on the Honey Bee Click Here

Honey bees can form colonies of tens of thousands. The honey bee is not normally a pest, producing the honey for our morning toast and pollinating our crops and flowers. These bees are usually cared for by beekeepers.

However, wild colonies, or swarms that leave a hive to start a new colony can cause considerable consternation to those whose building they may choose as temporary accommodation.

When bees are swarming they are usually very docile. They will form a clump hanging from a branch or similar structure while sending out 'scouts' to search for a suitable permanent home. Only if they choose an unsuitable (to us) place for their new home are they be regarded as pests.

More Information on the Bumble Bee Click Here ..

Bumble bees are largely harmless. Although the queen and workers have stings they rarely use them unless strongly provoked. Bumble bee colonies are much smaller than those of honey bees.

We suggests that no action be taken against bumble bee colonies. If the nest is somewhere unsuitable, eg. nests are often to be found in clumps of grass on an uncut lawn, then it might be possible to move the nest so that the grass can be cut.

There are several species of bumble bees found in the UK and Ireland. They are easy to differentiate from honey bees because of their rounder, hairier bodies and their prominent black and yellow or black and red stripes.