Latest news with #swarm
The Guardian
28-07-2025
- General
- The Guardian
I was terrified of bees – until the day 30,000 of them moved into my house
As a child, I was allergic to bees. Just one sting on my fingertip could swell my whole arm. I was allergic to most things – dust, cat hair, pollen – and was always clutching an inhaler, sniffling into my sleeve and keeping a safe distance from stinging insects. As an adult, when my family bought our first house, a mid-century gem nestled in thick bushland on Sydney's Northern Beaches, I wasn't expecting a visit from my former nemesis. But one warm spring day, we heard the unmistakable hum of 20,000 of those honey-producing insects. 'Bees!' I shouted, as a large dark ball headed straight towards me and my baby girl. Terrified, I grabbed her and slammed the patio doors just in time. The swarm broke apart in the air and the buzzing became thunderous. I later learned that bees swarm when their current hive becomes overcrowded. Once the swarming instinct is triggered, scouts head out to find a new location and the old queen and her worker bees fly off to their new, less cramped abode. The bees left behind will then raise a new queen. During renovations we discovered masses of old honeycomb and dead bees in the ceilings and walls of our home; the swarm was likely attracted to that scent. As tens of thousands of bees squeezed into the wall cavity of our living room, my first instinct was to call a beekeeper. Bees are a precious creature – vital for pollination, food security and a healthy ecosystem. Unfortunately, the beekeeper couldn't help. 'Once the bees are in a wall, they're very difficult to extract,' he said, before hanging up. I called another and another, until eventually I resorted to pest control. We sealed the entry points along the wall and hoped another swarm wouldn't find its way to us. Sign up for the fun stuff with our rundown of must-reads, pop culture and tips for the weekend, every Saturday morning Years later, one did. We had just returned home from a stint in Singapore when I heard the familiar buzz of bees announcing their arrival. This swarm was big – 30,000 strong – and they quickly pushed their way into the walls and our stairwell cavity. I tried again to find a beekeeper to guide us, desperately searching the internet for local beekeeping associations; I couldn't stomach calling pest control again. This time, we found the right person – a young beekeeper who arrived on our doorstep an hour later with his gear and beekeeper suit. First, he set up a lure outside – a bait hive, filled with old comb and a few drops of lemongrass oil, which mimics a bee pheromone and can entice a swarm to move. He put up a ladder and placed the wooden box near the entry point to the wall, hoping the queen and her workers would leave our property and set themselves up in the bait hive. Over the next week, we waited and watched and hoped. Unfortunately, the bees did not budge. Sign up to Saved for Later Catch up on the fun stuff with Guardian Australia's culture and lifestyle rundown of pop culture, trends and tips after newsletter promotion Plan B (bee?) was to entice the swarm from closer range. By now, the bees were already building comb and storing honey in a small cavity above the stairs, preparing to rear eggs and larvae. The beekeeper convinced us to let him cut a hole in our floor; he then placed the box directly on top of the hive – right in the middle of our living space. We got on with our daily lives, cooking, watching TV, working … all the while cohabiting alongside thousands of bees. Occasionally, one would pop out of our air conditioning unit or get confused on its pollen route and fly through an open window. But for the most part, they were excellent housemates. Living with the constant low hum of bees and learning more about their behaviour and habits from the beekeeper, my fear and anxiety began to dissipate. I stopped using insect spray and instead, transported the lost bees back outside on a piece of paper. I wasn't once stung – they seemed to sense I wasn't going to harm them. Weeks later, we were finally ready to move the bees to greener pastures – a farm where the beekeeper already kept established hives. He confessed it was the most difficult hive removal he'd ever done. It took several 20-litre buckets full of honey and comb, a lot of smoke to calm the bees down, and some escapees, but he managed to save two-thirds of the hive. Once the bees were gone, the house felt too quiet. Wax moths came to clean up the leftover beeswax and pollen. Spiders came to eat the wax moth and larvae. We repaired the floor. Every spring, when the air starts to lose its chill and pollen makes me sneeze, I keep watch for scout bees and make a very important phone call. The beekeeper answers: he'll be round with a bait hive to lure the bees away from our walls, should they come to visit. So far, so good. Pip Harry is an author. Her latest young adult novel, Drift, inspired by her experience with the bees, is out in Australia on 30 July (Hachette Australia, $17.99)
The Guardian
28-07-2025
- General
- The Guardian
Country diary 1950: Grass snakes do a lot of good
HEREFORD: I came upon a beautifully marked silvery grass snake; it was three feet long. As it did not slip away, I looked at it carefully and concluded that some foolish person had attempted to kill it. It was damaged just behind its head. I picked it up and decided reluctantly to finish it off, as it would have slowly died. Grass snakes do a lot of good because they live on grubs and insects. It is a pity people are afraid of them as they are perfectly harmless. Two young cuckoos were sitting on the telegraph wires, possibly preparing to leave the country. One might easily have taken them for hawks with their speckled plumage. I believe many young cuckoos are shot in mistake for hawks. I have been taking honey. The hives are jammed up with it. I am never quite clear about the way bee scouts direct a queen to a residence chosen by them for a swarm. I suppose they close round her and all go along together. Perhaps, the method of dancing on the combs is used, which is done when a find of honey has been made and information of its whereabouts is conveyed, by the finder to the other bees.
Daily Mail
18-07-2025
- Climate
- Daily Mail
Massive ladybird swarm descends on UK, largest Since 1976
Britons have been forced to take shelter in their cars as thousands of ladybirds descend on towns and cities across the country. In seaside resorts like Weston-Super-Mare, beachgoers faced a 'ladybird apocalypse' as 'millions' of the insects covered every available surface. On Thursday, a sudden swarm of beetles even brought about a temporary pause in play at the Lord's test match against India. Experts say this is the largest sighting since the famous 'ladybird invasion' of 1976. Scientists say that these sudden swarms are due to the recent spell of hot weather, just like the exceptionally hot summer of 1976. On TikTok, several users have shared videos of ladybird swarms descending on UK towns. In one viral clip, a woman is covered in the swarming bugs as the caption reads: 'Take this as your sign not to go to the beach today.' Other posts show ladybirds crawling in their hundreds over prams, cars, umbrellas and even people's food. Professor Stuart Reynolds, an insect biologist from the University of Bath, told MailOnline: 'Ecology is complicated and this is a multi-factor problem, but it's for sure that the recent hot, dry weather has something to do with it. My suggestion is that favourable weather conditions over the last few months have led to a boom in aphid numbers on crop land and woodland. Ladybirds eat aphids, so this has led to a consequent boom in ladybirds.' Although the sightings might seem alarming, Professor Reynolds claims there is 'absolutely nothing to worry about.' Professor Reynolds says: 'It's happened before and will happen again. Boom and bust cycles are common in nature. Ladybirds may give you just a little nip sometimes - just to check whether you are edible or maybe because your skin is a bit salty - but they won't do any damage. It's not a plague! Ladybirds are lovely and we should celebrate them! Everyone loves a ladybird!' Over the last few weeks, Britain's weather has been exceptionally warm, with temperatures peaking at 34.7°C (94.5°F) last Friday. Like all insects, ladybirds and aphids speed up their life cycles during the warm weather, which means more insects are born. However, the recent heatwaves have been so hot and dry that both vegetation and aphids have started to die off. 'The last few weeks have been unfavourable to aphids, so that the poor ladybirds now have nothing to eat,' says Professor Reynolds. This leads them to fly off looking for grub elsewhere.' In addition to food, the ladybirds are also coming together to find mates, which leads to even larger local swarms. Although it might seem like it on social media, the insects probably aren't deliberately making their way to the beach. Professor Reynolds says that there are probably swarms 'all over the place', but they just happen to be more obvious in busy seaside towns like Weston-Super-Mare. Despite their alarming appearance, the experts say that we should welcome the swarms with open arms. Seeing so many ladybirds is a particularly good sign since they are a key predator as well as being a food source for larger animals like birds. Professor Tim Coulson, science author and biologist at the University of Oxford, told MailOnline: 'Predators, like ladybirds, are incredibly important components of ecosystems. Take away predators, and all hell breaks loose. We should cherish our ladybirds! Definitely do not kill the ladybirds as they keep the numbers of pest species down. Much better to have ladybirds than to spray crops with insecticides to kill the aphids.' Likewise, Professor Helen Roy, one of the world's leading ladybird experts from the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, told MailOnline: 'Ladybirds are much-loved insects. So, I hope people can enjoy seeing so many ladybirds and celebrate these incredible insects.' Ladybirds aren't the only insects to have swarmed the UK amid the recent warm weather. Britain has also faced a surge of wasps, an expert has warned. Andrew Dellbridge of Ace Pest Control in Norfolk said the spring sunshine had lured wasps out of hibernation early, giving them more time to grow. And though they'll die off come winter, the head start means this year's nests are already surpassing last year's in size, with months still to go. Now wasps are experiencing a 'population explosion', Mr Dellbridge said, and Britain faces a wave of jumbo nests before winter.
Daily Mail
18-07-2025
- Climate
- Daily Mail
Huge swarm of LADYBIRDS hits the UK: Terrified Brits are forced to hide in their cars as thousands of beetles descend on towns and cities - in largest sighting since 1976
Britons have been forced to take shelter in their cars as thousands of ladybirds descend on towns and cities across the country. In seaside resorts like Weston-Super-Mare, beachgoers faced a 'ladybird apocalypse' as 'millions' of the insects covered every available surface. On Thursday, a sudden swarm of beetles even brought about a temporary pause in play at the Lord's test match against India. Experts say this is the largest sighting since the famous 'ladybird invasion' of 1976. Scientists say that these sudden swarms are due to the recent spell of hot weather, just like the exceptionally hot summer of 1976. On TikTok, several users have shared videos of ladybird swarms descending on UK towns. In one viral clip, a woman is covered in the swarming bugs as the caption reads: 'Take this as your sign not to go to the beach today.' Other posts show ladybirds crawling in their hundreds over prams, cars, umbrellas and even people's food. @benwalters746 Help 😂😂😂 we used to love playing with ladybirds when we was at school #foru #foryoupage❤️❤️ #holiday #amazing #ladybird #infestation #stothys #essex #seaside ♬ Jump Little Ladybird - Mini Vibes Professor Stuart Reynolds, an insect biologist from the University of Bath, told MailOnline: 'Ecology is complicated and this is a multi-factor problem, but it's for sure that the recent hot, dry weather has something to do with it. 'My suggestion is that favourable weather conditions over the last few months have led to a boom in aphid numbers on crop land and woodland. 'Ladybirds eat aphids, so this has led to a consequent boom in ladybirds.' Although the sightings might seem alarming, Professor Reynolds claims there is 'absolutely nothing to worry about.' Professor Reynolds says: 'It's happened before and will happen again. Boom and bust cycles are common in nature. 'Ladybirds may give you just a little nip sometimes - just to check whether you are edible or maybe because your skin is a bit salty - but they won't do any damage. 'It's not a plague! Ladybirds are lovely and we should celebrate them! Everyone loves a ladybird!' Over the last few weeks, Britain's weather has been exceptionally warm, with temperatures peaking at 34.7°C (94.5°F) last Friday. Do ladybirds bite? Ladybirds can and do bite humans when they are swarming. However, they do not have any venom, and their bites are perfectly harmless. At most, these bites will feel like a small pinch and produce very minor irritation. Bites are also rare and generally not due to aggression. Experts say that ladybirds will only 'nip' you to see if you are edible when they are hungry or if your skin tastes particularly salty. Like all insects, ladybirds and aphids speed up their life cycles during the warm weather, which means more insects are born. However, the recent heatwaves have been so hot and dry that both vegetation and aphids have started to die off. 'The last few weeks have been unfavourable to aphids, so that the poor ladybirds now have nothing to eat,' says Professor Reynolds. 'This leads them to fly off looking for grub elsewhere.' In addition to food, the ladybirds are also coming together to find mates, which leads to even larger local swarms. Although it might seem like it on social media, the insects probably aren't deliberately making their way to the beach. Professor Reynolds says that there are probably swarms 'all over the place', but they just happen to be more obvious in busy seaside towns like Weston-Super-Mare. Despite their alarming appearance, the experts say that we should welcome the swarms with open arms. Seeing so many ladybirds is a particularly good sign since they are a key predator as well as being a food source for larger animals like birds. Professor Tim Coulson, science author and biologist at the University of Oxford, told MailOnline: 'Predators, like ladybirds, are incredibly important components of ecosystems. Take away predators, and all hell breaks loose. 'We should cherish our ladybirds! Definitely do not kill the ladybirds as they keep the numbers of pest species down. Much better to have ladybirds than to spray crops with insecticides to kill the aphids.' Likewise, Professor Helen Roy, one of the world's leading ladybird experts from the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, told MailOnline: 'Ladybirds are much-loved insects. So, I hope people can enjoy seeing so many ladybirds and celebrate these incredible insects.' Ladybirds aren't the only insects to have swarmed the UK amid the recent warm weather. Britain has also faced a surge of wasps, an expert has warned. Andrew Dellbridge of Ace Pest Control in Norfolk said the spring sunshine had lured wasps out of hibernation early, giving them more time to grow. And though they'll die off come winter, the head start means this year's nests are already surpassing last year's in size, with months still to go. Now wasps are experiencing a 'population explosion', Mr Dellbridge said, and Britain faces a wave of jumbo nests before winter. He said: 'What I would expect to do in September–October as far as size of nest and multiple wasps within a nest, we're getting now. 'By September–October, the right back end of the season before they all die off, we should be in massive nest territory.'
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Are bees dangerous? What to know after multiple cases of bee attacks
A town in south-central France faced an unusual siege on Sunday, July 6 when a swarm of bees injured 24 people, leaving three in critical condition, local authorities told the Associated Press. Members of a since-relocated hive attacked locals over the course of about 30 minutes, Mayor Pierre Mathonier told local news outlets, and sent three people to the hospital, including a 78-year-old man who went into cardiac arrest before being revived, AP reported. The attack is believed to have been prompted by the presence of Asian hornets, sometimes nicknamed "murder hornets," an invasive species that also has a growing presence in the U.S. The good news is that swarming bee attacks of this severity are rare. Bees and wasps, like plenty of other wildlife, are not known to be particularly aggressive toward humans and generally only attack if their hive has been threatened. While bees and wasps are generally not a risk to people (in fact, their dwindling numbers are a bigger risk to humans as a whole, thanks to the vital role they play in our ecosystem and food chain), stories like the attack out of France are enough to inspire some measure of anxiety. Are bees a potentially deadly danger Americans contend with each time they step out the door? Here's what to know. While only an average of 72 Americans died from hornet, wasp and bee stings each year between 2011 and 2021, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it can and does happen, especially in the spring and summer months when North American hives tend to be the most active. Several major bee attacks have been reported in multiple U.S. states in 2025 alone. On Sunday, July 7, bees stung members of a crew working on a nursing home roof in Arizona, killing one and seriously harming two others. In May, a 66-year-old Texas man was killed when a swarm of bees stung him enough times to cause his circulatory system to stop functioning properly. Just weeks before, another Texas resident was attacked by a massive throng that killed three of her horses. Generally speaking, bees and wasps aren't aggressive simply for the sake of being aggressive, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Like most creatures with natural predators, bees have developed mechanisms to protect themselves and their nests. If they perceive humans as a threat, whether that be due to swatting them or disturbing their nest, they may sting as a defense mechanism to ward the threat off. Some bees also release a type of "warning" or "danger" pheromone when they sting that attracts other bees to the fight against the perceived threat at hand, like summoning a small insect army. To avoid drawing the ire of a nest, be aware of your surroundings and avoid nests and swatting at bees hanging out nearby, suggests Mayo Clinic. Cover food when eating outside, avoid floral-smelling colognes and perfumes and wear protective clothing like long sleeves and pants when working or playing outdoors. If you find yourself at the top of a bee or wasp swarm's public enemy list, stay calm and get out of the area quickly. Your best bet is to run to the nearest shelter, suggests an advisory from the University of Arizona, and keep running until you get there. Protect your face, especially your mouth and eyes, by covering the area with whatever you have on hand – a mask, handkerchief, coat, towel, hat or, as a last resort, your shirt could work. Do not try to freeze, play dead or jump into a body of water, the advisory says. The most common cause of serious illness or death from bee stings is an allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. An anaphylactic reaction affects your skin, airways, stomach and heart, per the Cleveland Clinic. Although this will vary from person to person, initial symptoms are typically characterized by hives, swelling or edema and breathing difficulties. As symptoms progress, you may begin to experience "tightness in the chest, shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, and then swelling of the face to tongue and lips and eyes," Dr. Payel Gupta, medical director of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology at LifeMD, previously told USA TODAY. If left untreated, anaphylaxis can be fatal. Epinephrine is a life-saving medication used to treat anaphylaxis, and it is injected as a shot in your thigh, according to the Mayo Clinic. Anaphylaxis can happen within seconds, which is why it's so important to call 911 and seek medical care at the onset of symptoms, Gupta said. In some cases, victims of bee attacks can die without having a known allergy, especially if they receive an excessive number of stings. Stings contain venom, which usually can be fought off by the body fairly easily. However, being stung dozens of times can make anyone feel sick as their body works to handle the venom and, in the exceedingly rare case that someone is stung hundreds or even thousands of times, the venom may be enough to cause serious illness or even death, according to the Mayo Clinic. People who are not allergic but have been stung multiple times should still seek medical attention, says the Mayo Clinic, and children or those who have existing respiratory issues are especially at risk for an adverse reaction to a larger number of stings. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Are bees deadly? What to know after recent bee attacks
