Swarm

24 August 2018

If you see a swarm in this area, leave it alone and contact swarm@manchester.ac.uk. Then we will come and get it!

A Little More Information for the Curious

Swarms are the way bees divide into 2 separate colonies when there isn’t enough space in one. When bees swarm they are at their most vulnerable and - contrary to the movies - do not pose a threat.

Swarming bees have little interest in people, their priority is to find a safe place to set up their new colony, so you have little to fear from them.

Leave the bees alone and they will leave you alone. However, you should still act with caution as bees are wild insects. If you see a resting swarm, then please contact a local beekeeper who will come and collect it. There are over 1200 BBKA members registered to collect swarms - http://www.bbka.org.uk.

Swarms can be badly damaged by high winds and heavy rainfall, so please do contact us as soon as possible if you see a swarm.

Stings

You are very unlikely to be stung - leave the bees alone and they will leave you alone. If stung most people will not have a serious reaction.

However, in the Event of a Serious Bee Sting Reaction:

• Ensure the safety of yourself and others: close any open hives and get the patient away from the bees.
• Remove the sting(s) as quickly as possible, by whatever means.
• In the event of a STING IN THE AIRWAY or a SEVERE REACTION – treat as a medical emergency and call 999.
• Call 999 immediately and ask for an ambulance, giving precise location details and advise of a possible bee sting reaction. This is the University of Manchester, Nr. Kilburn Building, Oxford Road, Manchester.
• Follow advice from the 999 call handler.
• Loosen tight clothing, if necessary lie the patient down and await assistance.
• Administer adrenaline if the patient has been prescribed it and allows it to be administered.
• In cases where adrenaline has been administered, the patient should be promptly assessed at a local A&E department