'Swarming bees are too full of honey to sting'

Swarms of bees on trees, houses and even bikes can be an alarming sight as the weather turns warmer.

But a team that responds to swarms when they happen has reassured people the insects are unlikely to cause harm.

Shropshire Beekeepers' Association swarm collector Glyn Williams said: "They're in a good mood. Not only that, they're so full of honey they can't even bend. For a bee to be able to sting it needs to bend."

Fellow beekeeper John Adams said: "I wouldn't encourage people to do it, but you can pick up a swarm of bees in your hand and put them into a box."

Swarms can be a common sight at this time of year as colonies deal with old queens, an imbalance between young and old bees or not enough food or room in the hive.

Williams, who has kept bees for more than 50 years, explained how worker bees "bully" their old queen out to lead her to a new home.

Speaking at the group's headquarters at Conduit Head, south of Shrewsbury, he said swarms come to rest when they have not decided where to go.

The queen gives off a pheromone as she is flying, and another "glandular odour" when she settles somewhere, which the bees flock to.

"It actually stabilises a swarm that stops it flying and it sits there until the decision is made where they're going to go," he said.

Returning scouts "dance" in front of the swarm to indicate where their new home will be, and off they go.

Williams keeps an eye on his bees to spot the signs they might take off, to avoid losing them both and their honey.

He pointed out an empty cell known as a play cup on the face of one of his combs.

"If there was an egg in that, I would start to think, 'ah, they're about to swarm and I'd better do some management', and I can manage the colony to stop it swarming."

He said he loved collecting swarms, as a service to the public.

"Anyone can go and fetch a swarm, but whether they leave a mess behind and nasty bees behind is another thing.

"We like to clear them away without leaving too many bees behind. If you handle them gently, they're pretty good."

He advised anyone who spotted a swarm not to worry, but to keep out of its way.

"Because if the queen lands on you, you wonder what's happening because they'll all land on you, and you'll be covered in bees."

A list of local swarm collectors can be found on the British Beekeepers' Association website.

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