In beekeeping terminology, a swarm refers to a cluster of bees that has left their original hive to establish a new one. The common phenomenon appeared in an uncommon location in Taipei this week, much to the surprise of onlookers and staff.
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A driver was shocked to find a swarm of bees covering her car’s rear windshield over the weekend during a trip to Taipei’s National Palace Museum. The unusual sight drew some curious onlookers, but most kept their distance.
Surprised at the phenomenon, a tour bus driver captured video of the bees, saying it was the first time he had witnessed anything like it. He says the car owner called the parking lot staff to help after discovering the swarm on her car, eventually waving them away with an umbrella before quickly jumping in and closing the door.
The parking lot, located near a wooded area, often attracts insects, especially as temperatures rise in spring. However, staff members say they’ve never seen such a large number of bees gather on a vehicle before.
National Taiwan University Entomology Professor Hsu Er-lieh (徐爾烈) says the phenomenon is linked to bee colony behavior. When a hive becomes overcrowded, the queen bee will leave to find a new nesting site, with thousands of worker bees following her. In this case, the queen may have stopped on the car’s rear windshield, leading the rest of the swarm to gather around her.
As spring arrives, it seems like the bees are also looking for a fresh start, but if you happen upon a swarm yourself, “bee” wise and call in the experts.