How to | Move a swarm of bees (don't try this at home)

If you’ve ever seen honey bees swarm they’re an impressive sight. Even more impressive are the beekeepers that come to collect them. Here’s how the magic is done

Why do honey bees swarm?

Swarming occurs when things are getting tight for space in the hive and some of the bees decide to move on. Occasionally bees swarm and move out in order to reproduce.

When does swarming occur?

On hot days, usually between May and July. Beekeepers call this ‘swarm season’. The bees won’t swarm if rain is due as they don’t like to be caught out of their hives in bad weather, so if you see bees swarming you can be pretty sure it’s safe to hang out your washing before going out.

What happens when they swarm? 

Essentially, the colony splits in two but it’s not a one-day event. First, cells are created to hatch a new queen in the hive, meanwhile the worker bees put the old queen on a diet to enable her to fly better when she leaves the hive. The bees then stock up on honey themselves to see them through until they’re settled in their new home. 

Here comes the swarming bit…

The bees that are packing up leave together and buzz around in a cloud before parking themselves on a solid object nearby, with their queen protected in the middle. Could be a tree, could be a lamp post, could be your garden furniture. Scout bees then head out looking for a new home. This process can take up to a few days and actually begins even before they leave the hive. After plenty of negotiation, a new nest is chosen and the bees move in together. 

How do beekeepers take a swarm away?

Beekeepers love free bees so they’re often happy to be called out to a swarm. They’ll place a large container underneath the swarm, raised up so that as much of the swarm as possible is contained within. They’ll then gently shake the tree or scrape the bees off the solid object into the container. The container is then placed upside down on the ground, with a sheet beneath it and one side of the container is lifted to allow more bees to get in. Any bees that leave the box will home back inside again towards the queen. As long as you’re sure the queen is inside, the box can then be left where it is until the whole swarm is inside. The sheet is then tied up at the top and the whole swarm can be relocated to an empty hive. 

What should you do if you spot a swarm?

Give them plenty of space. They don’t generally sting you but it’s best not to take the risk. The next step is to identify the type of bee. Not all swarms will be honey bees. The British Bee Keepers’ Association will collect honey bees for you but they also have an identifier on their website along with numbers of who to call for each type of bee. Call out a beekeeper and then you can stand back and helpfully read out the instructions above while he or she does all the hard work and you look rather clever.

If you’d like to know more about the care of bees, read our feature How Hard Can it Be… To Become a Beekeeper in our June issue, which is in shops now.

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More buzz about bees…

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Dream divination | What bees mean

If your dreams are filled with the buzzing of bees, here’s what it might mean

Bees are heavy in symbolism, appearing in myths and folklore in many cultures, from the Mayans to the Celts to the Native Americans. No wonder, really, that they turn up in our dreams from time to time. If you’ve had a dream about a bee, or even a swarm of them, here’s what it might mean. 

In general, dreaming about bees indicates something positive, according to dream psychology. Bees in dreams are generally linked to hard work, or efficiency. Perhaps you are busy with a new project at work or have a personal project on the boil such as moving house. 

More specifically, if your dream involves honey, it’s said to be a portent of wealth to come, or of a reward for hard work. A full hive is, unsurprisingly, a good omen of riches, whereas an empty hive might be a sign of imminent failure, particularly financial. A beehive on fire, also unsurprisingly, is an omen of very bad news. Particularly for the bees, we imagine. 

A swarm of bees may symbolise your fears of responsibility to a group, whether that’s work colleagues or family. 

Being stung by a bee is apparently a symbol of running away from pain. Again, no surprises there.

Meanwhile, being chased by bees suggests you are too invested in the future above the present (presumably invested in a future in which you are not being chased by bees). 

Or perhaps, you’ve simply got a wasps’ nest in your attic that’s disturbing your peaceful sleep. Who knows?  You can find out more about your dreams and the signs from universe by reading your natal chart.

The beautiful garden bumblebee pictured above is one of the buzzy chaps featured in our Bee Identifier from our May Miscellany pages. They’re from a print by Kate Broughton. You can buy a copy of her bee print from her shop.

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More bees to please…

Music appreciation | The Flight of the Bumblebee

Join us for a brief music lesson on Rimsky-Korsakov’s 1900 composition The Flight of the Bumblebee and find out what all the buzz was about

The fast and frenetic Flight of the Bumblebee is probably one of the most loved and recognised pieces of music in the classical canon. Obviously, it’s intended to imitate the noise and flight pattern of a bee. But here are a few more facts about it so that if it’s ever played in your presence you can nonchalantly comment on it and look very clever indeed. 

Why was it written?

It’s actually just a very small part of an opera called The Tale of Tsar Saltan. Flight is an interlude between scenes one and two of Act Three. 

What’s it all about, then?

At this point in the opera, Gvidon has been separated from his father, but an enchanted swan, whose life he once saved, turns him into a bumblebee so he can fly to find him. 

Which instruments can I hear?

It’s been played by many different ensembles, but chances are you can hear a lot of strings (mainly violins) and a flute and piccolo. Originally it was written for a symphonic orchestra. 

What should I be listening for?

Note the unusually fast tempo, which never slows, and actually becomes more frenetic as the piece moves towards its end. It’s made up of running chromatic semiquavers (sixteenths of a note), which give the buzzing, humming effect. 

Have I heard this somewhere else?

Definitely. Artists of all kinds have sampled and referenced it over the years. It’s appeared in the computer game Tetris, in a Bob Dylan track, and it even appeared in the pilot episode of The Muppets. 

Do say… “Rimsky-Korsakov’s composition really is a stunning piece of violin virtuosity. Doesn’t it just lift the soul?”

Don’t say… “Oh. LOVE a bit of Rip Your Corsets Off. Pass the fiddle, I can play a passable version myself, I reckon.”

The beautiful bumblebee picture above was used on our subscriptions page this month, which you can find out more about by clicking the subscription link below. .
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From our April issue…

More musical appreciation…

One small change | lose cling film

Little changes you can make to create a big difference for the planet

Here at The Simple Things we’ve been trying to make one small change to our lifestyles each month - things we know we should be doing, like switching to refillable soap and cleaning products, using cloths instead of throwaway wipes. This month, inspired by our Cups of Tea feature with the co-owner of The Beeswax Wrap Company, Fran Beer, we’re hoping to try getting shot of cling film.

Let’s be honest, cling film is super-convenient. But it’s plastic, it’s not (very) reusable and there are much more attractive options. Here are a few swaps you could make to bring a little more joy and a little less wrappy plastic to your life…

Leftover cake

Use a pretty tin instead. If you don’t already have a dedicated cake tin, you need to practise a little more self-care anyway.

Cheese

Beeswax wraps (above) are ideal for odd bits of cheese. Get a pack of different sized wraps and you’ll have enough for your large wedge of brie or your knob-end of parmesan.

Lunchtime sandwiches

Wax or cloth wraps work well for sarnies, too, but a reusable sandwich box will save it from getting squished in your bag.

Half a tin of soup, beans (or anything)

Reusable can lids (like the ones they sell for pet food) work a treat and just pop in the dishwasher after use ready for next time.

Half used veg

If pre-chopped most veg can be kept from spoiling by putting it in a bowl of water in the fridge (good for carrot sticks, scrubbed potatoes etc). Otherwise, store cut veg like peppers and cucumber in the salad drawer. In all honesty, the cut side gets a little dry whether wrapped in cling film or not so you’re best not bothering and just slicing off a thin bit of the exposed edge before you next chop some off.

Bread

Get a bread bin. See our self-care note above re cake tins. It’s just wrong not to have one.

Homemade biscuits

Don’t be silly. Just finish them off, for goodness’ sake!

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More from our June issue…

More ways to live well…

Letters to a beekeeper…

This is a love story about bees and flowers; about a beekeeper and a gardener; about all of us, and the natural world we love. Follow urban beekeeper Steve Benbow and gardener Alys Fowler as they explore each other's world.

JOIN THEM AS they swap tips for gardening, growing and helping out useful insects, whether they are bees or butterflies, predators or prey, pollinator or pest. The pair have now sucessfully crowdfunded their project on Unbound.

Steve Benbow is an urban beekeeper and founder of The London Honey Company.

Read our interview with Steve Benbow in issue 17 of The Simple Things.