BEES STOP TRAFFIC

Southland Times, Issue 22139, 6 October 1933, Page 8

BEES STOP TRAFFIC

RIVAL SWARMS ON ROAD. Bees that appeared to be gathered into rival swarms and to be engaged in angry attacks, stopped traffic on a road near Taunton, Somerset, and stung several people who ventured near them. A bee-keeper who arrived after the “battle,” captured one swarm which had settled upon a letter-box. It was stated by a bee-keeper that he had never before known two swarms to fight. Mr R. E. Quick, of London, an authority on bees expressed doubt about the view that the ' bees were fighting. “Bees never fight in the air,” he said, “or afr any rate, I have never heard of anything of the kind happening. What happened in this instance, I should say, -was that a big swarm flying across the road were separated by a motor car, and their mass formation was destroyed. “Probably the queen was knocked to the ground, and if this happened the remainder, who would never desert her, would fly round and round in a circle in an attampt to locate her. To the ‘uninitiated’ it might seem that a battle of bees was in progress. “Bees,” Mr Quick added, “fight only on their own doorsteps. Sometimes, at this time of year, weaker hives are attacked by bees from the strong hives. Then bees really fight.”