Thousands of bees were captured swarming around a family’s porch light in recent images taken in Florida.
The bees apparently moved on soon after baffled onlookers reached for their phones to capture the incident.
It happened in the coastal city of Cape Coral in the state of Florida on Tuesday, 6th September, according to local media reports.
Florida is home to more than 300 species of bees that are considered a fundamental part of the state’s agricultural success.
The bees were probably making a short pit stop while searching for a new place to live, according to bee expert Billy Gunnels, an animal behaviour professor at the Florida Gulf Coast University (FCGU).
He added: “It’s called a swarm and what these bees are doing is they are splitting one of their colonies in two.”
The FCGU bee expert went on to say that the family was lucky to have encountered a home-hunting swarm after explaining that the bees are not out to hurt anyone.
He stated: “This is a time when beekeepers will go out and collect new colonies.”
The bees usually move on quite quickly although they are known to leave behind a wax marker.
Gunnels explained: “That does not mean that they will set up a colony there, they use their wax to help them locate places.”
The bee expert then stated that it is extremely rare for the insects to get inside the walls of houses, but if something like that occurs, ask a beekeeper for help.
To find out more about the author, editor or agency that supplied this story – please click below.
Story By: Alice Amelia Thomas, Sub-Editor: Michael Leidig, Agency: Newsflash
The Ananova page is created by and dedicated to professional, independent freelance journalists. It is a place for us to showcase our work. When our news is sold to our media partners, we will include the link here.
