Bee swarms buzz city

Geelong is literally abuzz as a combination of spring rain and warm weather sparks an outbreak of bee infestations, according to local apiarists.
Edmond’s Honey owner John Edmond said bee swarming this year around the region was “extreme”.
The insects were making a beeline for “large amounts of canola grown close to the urban areas,” Mr Edmond said.
“Plus, the weather has caused rampant flowering of weeds and shrubs, so the bees have been breeding excessively.
“It will get worse in the next month as the melaleucas come into flower with bottlebrushes.”
Mr Edmond said spring produced swarming, in which hives filled with bees and honey and colonies split off to find alternative accommodation.
“But this season’s swarming has been so prolific that many beekeepers have run out of (hive) boxes.”
Ayrleigh Apiaries’ Evelyn Hill said he was busy as a bee keeping up with requests to remove swarms from homes and gardens.
Swarms were appearing from Lara to Highton, with the season normally continuing until April, Mr Hill said.
Abandoned properties often attracted swarms, which then hived off to other nearby houses, he said.
“I can guarantee there is a hive in one in every 100 houses in any suburb in Geelong.
“I’ve been getting calls left, right and centre to remove bees from walls, under roof cavities, even in drums or old wine barrels.
“I’m even working on a chest of drawers where the bees got in at the back. I’ve taken out 25kg of honey and I’m still not finished.”
Mr Hill said an average hive housed up to 40,000 bees, with as many as 90 per cent “stingers”.
Geelong’s high number of unregistered hives worsened the problem, he said.
“All beekeepers should register their beehives, especially as those with less than five hives get free registration online with the Department of Primary Industries.
“If we get a bee disease incursion we need to be able to find all hives quickly for testing if we’re going to prevent it spreading.”