In October of this year, an Auckland resident woke up in her car surrounded by a dense swarm of bees that covered the rear of the vehicle for two hours. Such scenes have become commonplace for New Zealand: the country's largest city is experiencing an unusually active bee-swarming season, caused, according to experts, by the third-warmest winter on record.
The Auckland Beekeepers Association receives between five and ten calls a day asking for swarms to be removed. In previous years there were fewer than five such requests a day, and at least a hundred cases have already been handled this season. Swarms plaster themselves over parked cars, street signs and even force pedestrians to detour around busy intersections, as happened on the main shopping street, Queen Street.
Swarming is a natural process of colony reproduction. When the hive becomes crowded, some of the bees leave it together with the queen in search of new housing. A temporary stop on a tree, car or sign allows scouts to find a suitable place. At this time the insects are especially calm and non-aggressive, although the sight of thousands of buzzing bees can frighten city dwellers.
Ken Brown, president of the Auckland Beekeepers Club, links the early and mass swarming to the mild winter and early spring. Warmer conditions allowed colonies to raise more brood, and the surviving colonies turned out to be stronger and ready to divide earlier than usual. Similar shifts in bee behaviour are being noted in other regions of the world amid warming.
However, there is also a risk behind this: uncontrolled swarms can carry the varroa mite, a dangerous parasite capable of weakening or destroying other colonies. Beekeepers lose a significant portion of their worker bees precisely during the active honey-gathering period. At the same time, according to entomologist Phil Lester, early swarming is evidence of population growth and may herald a good season for bees.
City dwellers are increasingly turning to social media and local clubs for help, and volunteers collect swarms free of charge and relocate them to safe hives. Such cases are a reminder of how closely climate change is intertwined with everyday life, even in urban conditions.
While observing swarms, it is worth remembering: promptly contacting local beekeepers helps preserve both the bees and people's peace of mind.
