Beekeepers are seeing an increase in honeybee swarms in the UK. Swarming is a normal process for honeybees from May to July, and it happens when a colony splits and leaves with the queen bee to find a new home. However, this year there has been a surge in sightings, likely due to warm weather following a cold, wet spell. Beekeepers and pest-control workers are receiving a larger number of calls for assistance as people spot the clusters in backyards, chimneys, and barriers along city streets. The British Beekeepers Association reported that its swarm removal site had a traffic increase of 19% compared to last year. More calls for beekeepers have been received this year, which is double the number from last year. Swarms of honeybees are pollinators that play a significant role in biodiversity and agriculture. Even though honeybees are docile when swarming, it is advisable to keep their distance. In the past 50 years, globally managed honeybee colonies have increased, and beekeeping has emerged as a hobby. Swarming honeybees are not a cause for concern, according to Professor Ratnieks, as it is a part of spring, like birds building nests.
