Bee swarm has city residents spooked

ROBYN EDIE/Southland Times

SCARY SWARM: Wilton St resident Bjarnee Dunn, 9, said this swarm of bees, which appeared on her street yesterday, was freaking her out.

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The Invercargill City Council appears to have done an about-turn after residents of a city street said a visiting swarm of bees was putting their safety at risk.

Resident Tracy Kilkelly said the bees first appeared on a tree in Wilton St yesterday morning and developed into a mass swarm "shaped like a love heart".

But neighbours weren't feeling the love back.

They feared if a child, animal or anyone else disturbed the bees they could swarm over them and cause serious injuries.

Ms Kilkelly said a council staff member had checked out the bees yesterday and told her they needed an apiarist to remove them, which would not happen until Monday.

This was despite being told by the council staffer a person "couldn't run away quickly enough" if the bees were disturbed, she said.

"She (the council staffer) said unless they were agitated they wouldn't pose a threat ... but I am apprehensive about the worst-case scenario. The neighbours are worried too."

Residents wanted them removed as soon as possible, she said.

When the Invercargill City Council was contacted last night a staffer said he would look into it.

He rang back 10 minutes later to say the parks and reserves manager Robin Pagan had instructed him to get hold of a ranger to try to deal with the bees as soon as practical this morning.

Ms Kilkelly said she was stoked the council had changed its mind and was taking swift action.

"It's been a real worry. I am absolutely stoked, as will be my neighbour. They have got a child and I have got my cat. There's a lot of kids in this neighbourhood."