Bee swarm: free collection
Don’t panic! A swarm is a natural, temporary event. I collect it free of charge with a partner beekeeper, because bees deserve to be protected, not destroyed.
- 100% free
- Partner beekeeper
- Bees protected
Why a swarm?
Every spring, a colony splits: the old queen leaves with part of the bees to look for a new home. While moving, the bees cluster on a tree, fence or wall. They are generally calm at this stage, but may sting if disturbed.
Recognising it
- A cluster of bees in a ball on a support
- Intense coming and going around one point
- Lots of bees arriving all at once
In the meantime
- Don’t disturb the swarm
- Don’t use insecticide
- Keep children and pets away
- Call me quickly
Bee, wasp or hornet?
A bee is brown and hairy, stockier than a wasp. If they are wasps or hornets, see the wasp and hornet nest removal page.
Is swarm collection really free?
Yes, for a visible, accessible swarm (a cluster on a branch, fence or wall). For a colony established inside a wall, loft or roof, I give you a quote.
How do I recognise a swarm?
A cluster of bees in a ball on a support, intense coming and going around one point, a sudden arrival of many bees in the garden.
What should I do in the meantime?
Do not disturb the swarm, do not use insecticide, keep children and pets away and call me quickly: a swarm only stays a few hours to a few days before settling.
Further reading
Wasp or hornet? How to tell them apart
Size, colours, nest, behaviour: the comparison table so you never mix them up again.
Wasps and hornets in the mountains: the season calendar
Nest founding in spring, peak in August and September, colonies die with the first frosts: the cycle at altitude.
Pests in the mountains: what makes the Chamonix valley different
Climate, timber chalets, tourism: what makes the valley different when it comes to pests.
Pests in your home?
Call me: I answer personally and give you a free quote. I come out within 24 to 48 hours anywhere in the Chamonix valley, 7 days a week for wasps, hornets and bed bugs.