To get rid of the bees (humanely)

[SeriousCreativeBlock]

I have a huge phobia of any stinging insects. Whenever I see even one, I'm left panicking, unable to breathe properly, my heart races, and I end up in floods of tears.

Today we discovered a huge swarm of bees on DD's playhouse and in next door's bush.

I'm aware that bees are important to the environment as pollinators etc.

We can't afford for a beekeeper to come and collect the swarm. I don't know what to do about them though. I can't leave them be as I will be a sobbing mess by the end of the day.

So WIBU to dispatch DP to get rid of the bees without harming them? Currently he's talking about starting a bonfire (!)

DP has just spoken to a local beekeeper. The bees no longer seem to be swarming but are flying around quite erratically. The beekeeper said that this means something has gone wrong with the hive and they're probably going to die within a couple of days So there's nothing he can do at the moment, but will come and look tomorrow if they seem to be swarming again.

As much as I am terrified of them, I don't actually wish them any harm, and certainly wouldn't actively go out of my way to destroy them. I thonk the bonfire comment was a joke as DP now seems concerned about not hurting them.

Bumble bees don't swarm, but honey bees do. According to Google. So must be true!

Sorry should have stated: they are honeybees.

Oh no that is so sad

maybe it's just the weather. we had a couple of warm beautiful days and now it's farking freezing

can you set a biggish cardboard box on the bush....they might swarm in there and be a bit warmer.

Apparently they crawl upwards when swarming, so maybe the cardboard box suggestion is a good one. If the swarm has broken up, maybe the queen didn't survive....

I know that when you feel so overwhelmed it is hard. Just as something you can hopefully hold on to, we've had bees in our chimney for years. Sometimes there is a break but they always come back. I suppose over all we have had a bee's nest in our chimney for around a total of fifteen years.

In all that time there has been one sting. And that was when it was going crazy because wasps were attacking the next. They have been better neighbours than some humans.

So try and stay away from them, hopefully a bee keeper will be able to help. It should be okay. Sending hugs as you must be stressed to pieces.

My DH is a beekeeper (not his main job) and has taken free swarms in the past from people's gardens. Win win for the garden owner and beekeeper as to buy are usually around £180 ish and there is often a waiting list.

I know you are sorted now but as others have said if it happens again (or to anyone else) contact your local beekeeper. Or me if you are in the North West and I will send DH round :D

My DH is also a bee keeper (also not his main job) and CheshireDing ( and everyone else) is right - local bee keeper will be delighted to collect a swarm. We're not far outside London and they can be over £200 down here!!

Oh I hope you get things sorted and the bees survive.

As an aside...has anyone noticed more Bumblebees this year ? We have had loads starting quite early on. In the past we have had several nests usually in our stone wall but hadn't noticed any nests the last couple of years (though they may be hiding).

I'm hoping they come back

Shame OP (that they might all die I mean).

We had an old owl box on an oak tree inhabited by honey bees, we hadn't noticed the bees. One day after really heavy rain it fell off onto the ground resulting in a lot of very unhappy bees.

I phoned the local bee keeping association and a lovely man came and collected them. He said it was a huge nest and put it in a field next to his own bees.

He called me many months later to say that they were thriving and had integrated.

We have got tons of bees already Oldraver - and a house full of ladybirds and lacewings.