We've been invaded!

After watching the big race, I got up to take DS out to the backyard and OMG there was a massive swarm of bees, hundreds of them at least. The buzzing was sooo loud!

They have all congregated around my bbq and now there are about 20 or so flying around outside. I rang a pest control and they will come around and have a look later this afternoon. The guy said it is likely a queen is looking for a new place for her hive so they might all disappear within the next hour or so and if they do I can cancel the pest control, but if not, it's possible they're building the hive under/in my bbq! If there is a hive, the pest control will kill it :(

I feel bad for destroying all the bees, because they are just looking for a home. But DH is allergic and I don't know if DS is and he is so sad today because he hasn't been able to go outside for his usual after lunch play.

I thought it was a bit strange this morning as we were out there and there were a couple or more flying around and my cat was hiding under the bbq swiping at them so maybe she has disturbed a nest.

Sorry for the ramble. I guess has anyone else experienced bees at their place and are there other alternatives to getting them exterminated?

Umm, look up an Apiarist? They might be able to help move the queen or something?? At least they may give you a better alternative than pest control.

European Honey Bees are a feral animal in Australia. Their invasion and spread is listed as a Key Threatening Process under the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act (1995).

DECC | Competition from feral honeybees - key threatening process listing

And here are some of the important and catchy bits:

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.... honeybees impact on indigenous species in two broad ways, firstly via competition for tree hollows, and secondly via competition for floral resources.

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Threatened species which are likely to be affected by competition from honeybees for hollows include the Brush-tailed Phascogale, Phascogale tapoatafa; Squirrel Glider, Petaurus norfolcensis; Yellow-bellied Glider, Petaurus australis; Major Mitchell's ****atoo, Cacatua leadbeateri; Glossy Black ****atoo, Calyptorhynchus lathami; Superb Parrot, Polytelis swainsonii; and Regent Parrot, Polytelis anthopeplus. Populations of protected species that may become threatened include the Common Brushtail Possum, Trichosurus vulpecula; Greater Glider Petauroides volans; and Sugar Glider, Petaurus breviceps (Garnett 1992, Oldroyd et al. 1994, Paton 1996, Soderquist et al. 1996, Trainor 1995, Wood and Wallis 1998, Pyke 1999, Soderquist 1999).

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I have seen feral honey bee's impact in bushland first hand. So don't feel bad about controlling feral animals. Endangered Australian native flora and fauna species will be thanking you. :hug:

If there is a hive there a beekeeper (apiarist as Lulu said!) can remove it and either relocate or sometimes they use them in their own hives. That's if there is one in your area though... you definitely don't want a hive of bees hanging around though!

You could contact your local council, sometimes they will refer on info about swarms to beekeepers looking to get bees for free.

Where are you? DH was talking about getting more... but he'd have to buy more boxes first I think. He is in touch with members of the local beekeepers association, though, so could find out if someone is looking for a swarm.

ETA - oh, well, DH would be sad about the poor girls Epacris, but yes, they are feral. Don't worry Eluned, there are lots more.

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ETA - oh, well, DH would be sad about the poor girls Epacris, but yes, they are feral. Don't worry Eluned, there are lots more.

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Managed honeybees are not the subject of this determination.

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Just to point that out. :D

Thanks girls. The pest control dude said they sounded like they were European Honey Bees. So do beekeepers use these bees for honey? That sounds like a silly question considering they are called honeybees.

I rang the council and have the number of a beeman. But if they are a pest and not used for honey, not sure about ringing them?

Marcellus, I am NOR in Ballajura.

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But if they are a pest and not used for honey, not sure about ringing them?

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They are the same thing. If they are managed, then they're used for honey. If they are feral, then they're pests.

kk, thanks Epacris :)

Cancelled the pest control and have got in touch with the beeman.

We usually get a swarm each year onto our wisteria - friend of mine is hanging out waiting for the swarm to arrive so he can collect them! Although I'd much prefer the swarm myself ...

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kk, thanks Epacris :)

Cancelled the pest control and have got in touch with the beeman.

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Ahhh, happy ending. :D
I think if we get more bees I'll try and get DH to buy some tame ones cause the feral girls are nasty *****es (though they do seem to be more productive)

How can you tell the difference between feral and ladylike?

Lulu the native bees don't look anything like the european bees at all. The european bees are the ones that look like Bee Movie bees LOL

Mmmkay, haven't seen it. So if a European Wasp is huge and bright yellow, are the bees generally bigger too? Brighter colours etc?

A few years back now my inlaws heard this loud buzzing noise and went out to investigate and found a huge hive in one of the trees near the front door.. I couldn't believe how many bees there were..

I can't remember who they rang. I think it was a local who had a bee farm. It took 2 days I think but they came around and rehomed the bees as such and took them away (not sure on the time frame but it was longer then a day anyways.. they came and stunned them or something late in the evening as well to try get them into thier hive they had for them

native bees are small and black and don't sting you. I think they make cylindrical hives too, or somethign like that.
Feral honeybees are very agro, as opposed to ones that have been raised by a beekeeper. Our first hive is ex-feral, taken from a swarm like the one at Eluned's place. They will arc up if you so much as look at thier hive - DH is always getting stung through his suit.
The ladylike ones will let you poke around in their hive before they get shirty (as long as the weather is good and they're mostly off collecting pollen).

The European bees are the ones that look like cartoon bees. The native ones kinda look like flies and they're not very big. I'm not sure if they are all stingless but I know that some are.
Photo Gallery of Australian Native Bees

I rode into a flying swarm on my horse once (or maybe it flew into me, one moment I was minding my own business the next I'm in the middle of thousands of bees) - scariest moment ever. I love my old mare for being so calm and not freaking out.

Good news, the bee man came today and collected them all (well there are still a few buzzing around, he couldn't catch ALL of them). He said they hadn't been there long maybe since yesterday, ie. when I noticed the swarm. They had started building their home in my bbq and had already started making the honeycomb! It took him about 45 minutes to get them all into his bee box. He said they were all lady bees too and the queen was a young one.