Catching bees on LL

[EDmummy]

On a bus going past Hisar around 5.30pm yesterday, did anyone see a bee catcher removing a swarm/nest?

[buggie]

Saw the swarm buzzing around there at about 230pm as I pushed uv let by in her buggie - there were several guys looking at it/taking photos (but my view was hindered by the tree & i thought they were looking at the areials ontop of the co-op!)and it wasn't until I was right under it I realised what they were looking at (they finally said "be careful"). Was little bit worried as bugglet was smothered in raspberry juice but they were about 7ft high & didn't notice.

[Dulwichmudlark]

honey bees are prity frendly and even more so when thay swarm becouse thay have nothing to defend

[buggie]

Thanks for the reassurance - btw, what would be best course of action to take if you come across a swarm? (the guys yesterday were taking photos but unsure if they'd done anything else & I had to get bugglet home for milk).

[Dulwichmudlark]

contac me lol or a fellow beekeeper and some one will gladly take them away for you

[Zaardvark]

Hi dulwichbeekeeper - sorry but swarms of honeybees are dangerous. I was stung 242 times by one when I was 5...ran into it under a tree. Bees swarming in an urban environment like LL are a bad accident waiting to happen - they are not friendly, just bees looking for a new home and willing to defend their migrating queen by stinging any threats. Or as wikipedia states:

"Encountering a bee swarm for the first time can be alarming. Bees tend to swarm near their hives or honeycombs, so if a swarm is visible then a nest is nearby. Swarms are usually not aggressive unless provoked, so it is important to keep a good distance from the swarm. If the bees feel threatened, they will use their stingers and release a pheromone to alert the other bees of the threat resulting in a large bee attack."

Yes we need bees but let's not understate their danger and I emphasise that they are best avoided as when things go wrong it is very very distressing.

Z

[Freddy1929]

I saw the Beekeeper on Friday in lordship lane ''catching'' the Bees (not sure if thats the correct word!)

Seen this before, and the Beekeepers never wear any protective gear.

What made me laugh on friday was some very tall lads, in their late teens, walked over from the cocktail bar oposite, looking very 'cool' but as the bees flew near them they ran off screaming and pulling their tops over their faces not so cool then!!

[monica]

I thought it was very refreshing to see the swarm of bees on LL, and although you must be careful around them, and the way they were taken away by the beekeeper was slightly amusing. However we do need the bees and I was delighted to see a swarm appear on LL. But yes if you spot another swarm near by, contact the local beekeepers.