Another year, another swarm of bees question.
The bees have once again set up shop in my worm bin. I guess after this recent situation settles down, that worm bin is going to have to go.
About two weeks ago I noticed a lot of bees going in and out of the worm bin through the little air holes. This worm bin sits right by a patio and I’ve sat out there and they don’t bother me and I didn’t bother them. Yesterday morning I decided to pop off the top of the worm bin because I’d like them to move.
The top popped off and settled on its end leaning against the worm bin with the underside not visible. I thought that was enough annoying them for the day and hoped they’d fly away.
Since they were gathering on the lid in small bunches, I thought I should take the top and move it far away as there seemed to be something on the lid that was attracting them.
Just now I took a stick to lift the worm bin top away from it’s position tilted against the side of the bin, and it flipped from it’s resting place a foot or so away. Underneath the top is a football sized mound of bees. The bees are covering about half of what appears to be a beautiful white honeycomb. Man, they work fast.
They are not angry, have not stung me but there are a few that buzz around. I’ve left them alone only getting about four feet away to stare in amazement.
Any thoughts on how to get them to find a new home?
It’s pretty late in the year for swarming. It could be that they’ve been there for a while. They will go where the queen goes and where you see most of the bees she’s likely there. You could ask a local beekeeper to take them away. On the other hand, if they only have a football sized comb, they’ll not likely survive the winter, unless you live with year-round flowers.