Reporting a swarm
Is bee removal free?
Swarm or established colony
Almost every question about the cost of bee removal comes down to which of these two you have. A swarm is a colony in transit, resting in the open while scout bees look for a permanent home. An established colony has already found one and built comb inside it.
| Swarm | Established colony | |
|---|---|---|
| What it looks like | A hanging cluster of bees in the open, often on a branch, fence or wall | Bees flying in and out of a hole in a wall, roof, chimney or tree |
| Comb | None. The bees arrived with nothing | Comb built inside the cavity, often with honey in it |
| How long it has been there | Hours, sometimes a day or two | Weeks, months, often years |
| What removing it involves | Shaking or scooping the cluster into a box | Opening the structure, removing comb, then repairing it |
| Typical cost to you | Usually free | Usually paid, quoted by whoever does the work |
Why a beekeeper will do it for nothing
A swarm is a free colony of bees to someone who keeps them. A beekeeper with a spare box is genuinely pleased to hear from you, which is the whole premise of Swarmed: the person who wants the bees gone and the person who wants the bees are looking for each other and usually can't find each other in time.
A colony in a wall is the opposite. It is construction work with bees in it, the comb is often ruined in the process, and somebody has to make the building good afterwards. Expecting that for free is like expecting free plumbing.
What to do now
Report it either way, and don't spray it. Reporting is free and takes about a minute, and the beekeepers nearest you are alerted straight away. If it turns out to be a colony rather than a swarm, the beekeeper who takes it on will tell you what the job involves and quote you directly. Swarmed doesn't set those prices or take a share of them.
Looking for a beekeeper in your area rather than an explanation? The Swarmed homepage connects you with local beekeepers directly.
Common questions
- Is bee removal free?
- Collecting a honey bee swarm is usually free. A swarm is a cluster of bees resting in the open, on a branch, fence or wall, with no comb built yet, and a beekeeper wants it, because it is a colony they can keep. Getting an established colony out of a wall, roof or chimney is different work and is usually paid, because it involves opening up the structure and repairing it afterwards.
- What is the difference between a swarm and an established colony?
- Time and comb. A swarm has just left its old hive and is resting while scouts look for a home, so it has no comb, no honey and nothing to defend. It usually moves on within a day or two. An established colony has moved into a cavity and built comb, so removing it means cutting into whatever it is living in. If the bees have been in the same spot for more than a couple of weeks, it is almost certainly a colony rather than a swarm.
- What does it cost to remove bees from a wall or roof?
- It varies far too much for a single figure to be useful. The price depends on where the colony is, how much has to be opened up to reach it, how high it is, and who repairs the structure afterwards. Swarmed does not set or take a cut of those prices. Report the colony and the beekeeper who takes it on will quote you directly.
- Why would a beekeeper collect a swarm for nothing?
- Because they are getting bees. A healthy swarm is a free colony for a beekeeper who has equipment ready, which is why many treat swarm collection as a community service rather than a job. That is the whole idea behind Swarmed: the person who wants the bees gone and the person who wants the bees are looking for each other.
- What if it turns out to be wasps?
- Beekeepers do not remove wasps, and a wasp nest needs a pest control company rather than a beekeeper. If you are not sure what you are looking at, report it anyway with a photo. Our image check flags likely wasps, and you will be pointed towards the right kind of help rather than left waiting for a beekeeper who was never going to come.
More help
- BeekeepersGetting started as a beekeeperCreate an account, set the area you will travel for a swarm, and choose how you want to hear about one.
- BeekeepersSwarm alerts and claimingWho gets alerted and in what order, what a report tells you before you claim, and what happens once you do.
- BeekeepersBeekeeper questionsThe questions beekeepers ask most, from what it costs to whether there is an app.
- AssociationsSwarmed for associationsPut a reporting form on your own site, route those swarms to your members, and see what your group is catching.
- Reporting a swarmIs bee removal free?Collecting a swarm is usually free. Getting an established colony out of a wall or roof usually is not. Here is the difference.
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