What to do when your native stingless bees swarm
Native stingless bees swarming in Enmore, Sydney, 3 March, 2013
On 3 March I got a call from Greg, a friend who said, “We have a situation . . . “. He described a big cloud – more than a metre in diameter – of bees from the hive in the garden, and he sent me some photos one of which is here.
It shows bees all over the hive and, if you look closely, they fill the air around it.
I emailed Tim Heard in Brisbane, from whom the original hive was obtained before it was split as he is the source of most of my information about bees: www.sugarbag.net… and here is Tim’s reply:
“Wow, quite a swarm! This behaviour is not uncommon for Tetragonula bees. We call them fighting swarms and they involve bees from the defending hive and another colony. The attacking colony is probably attempting to take over the defending one. Colonies never die out as a result of fighting and in fact may be strengthened by it. There is not a lot you can do about it, except watch the spectacle. It may continue for a few weeks. Certainly let me know if the hive appears to have died out at the end of it, but I doubt this will happen. If you want to read more, See: www.aussiebee.com….
Best wishes,
Tim Heard”
The thing I like about Tim’s reply is it tells me that there are other native stingless bees around and so there’s a growth in their numbers as we keep introducing new hives – and more diversity.
Bzzzzz,
M
due to having a swarming hive for about 2 weeks the hive slowly died off about 4 weeks after the swarming started there is also the chance that they have lost the queen and feeling aimless until they make a new queen and other bees are having a go at a weakened hive due to this
I have 9 hives at my place. If I see a fighting swam I put the sprinkler on near the hive.nthe bees think it’s raining and go home.
Christine, It can’t hurt to block up the hive at night and leave it closed ’til the next night; be interesting to see what happens. Tim Heard’s advice to me – which is on this blog – is that they’ll sort it out themselves. Do let us know what you do and any results so we can share your experience. Fingers crossed, Michael
We have some fighting native bees at the moment and it has been going on for 2 days! they stop for a break at normal going back in their nest time and then come out and normal wake time to start all over again!! Hope we don’t lose them and am very heartened to read here that It is likely this won’t happen! I did wonder if I should tape up their hole once the bees are “finished fighting” for the day! and leave it taped for 24 hours and then reopen it in the hope that all the “enemies” will have gone away. What do you think of this idea.
best wishes Christine Butler
0733695930
cool…