HUON Creek is buzzing this spring with swarms of bees taking up residence in the region.
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There is an eye-opening display of nature on Yarralumla Drive, where thousands of bees followed their queen in search of a new hive.
Walkabout Apiaries Milawa manager Rod Whitehead said swarms were common at this time of year.
“It is the natural thing for the bees to swarm when the hive becomes over-populated,” he said.
“The queen leaves the hive and she takes her subjects with her.”
“They fly around or sit in a tree until her scouts find another hollow limb or tree where they can build a new hive.”
Hives are most commonly built in trees but they can also be found in houses, sheds, rock faces — anything they can and consider suitable.
After two years of honey shortages, Mr Whitehead said the bee population was smaller than what it used to be.
“In general, there are fewer bees around because the last two years have seen a dramatic decrease in the available food source for bees,” he said.
“Because of a drier winter, you don’t see as much capeweed and other ground flora plants around.”
People should go indoors if they see bees behaving erratically.
“Let them settle because quite often they move on within 24 to 48 hours,” Mr Whitehead said.
“Otherwise, contact a bee keeper and ask them to remove them.”
“We have heard of instances where people have tried to spray them with water or throw things at them to shoo them away. That is the worst way to approach a swarm.”