You wouldn’t BEElieve the swarm making themselves at home on a car in Marion Shopping Centre — until you see it.

Thousands of bees this morning settled on a black Jeep Patriot, causing a sting of commotion from passers-by.

media_camera Bees cover a Jeep at Marion. Picture 7 NEWS

media_camera Well, that yellow tape will fix it … a swarm of bees settle on a car at Westfield Marion on Wednesday. Picture: AAP / Sam Wundke, who is allergic to bees

But SA Museum bee expert Mark Stevens says the explanation for the swarm is simple — it’s spring time.

“The daughters (of the queens) are starting new hives,” Associate Professor Stevens said.

Mr Stevens says there are lots of populations of wild bees looking for hive locations, which are usually the ones you see in hollow trees in swarms.

media_camera Andrew Thompson removes the bees. Picture: AAP / Sam Wundke

media_camera The bees are removed from the car at Marion. Picture: AAP / Sam Wundke

media_camera Beekeeper Andrew Thompson removes the bees. Picture: AAP / Sam Wundke

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Bees take up residence on rooftop bar in Adelaide’s CBD

He said they’re attracted to rooftops, or “any protected area they can start to form a new hive”.

Mr Stevens said it was unusual that the bees had congregated on the back of a Jeep but “it’s one of those things that can happen”.

“Unless they’re trying to get into the wheel arch or the boot, they’ll probably move on” Mr Stevens says.

Beekeeper Andrew Thompson came to the rescue in the afternoon.

Mr Thompson, of Salisbury, says he dressed up in protective gear and gently brushed the bees into a box with his hand.

He says the rescued bees will be housed in a backyard apiary.

media_camera Andrew Thompson checks out the swarm of bees on the car in Marion. Picture: AAP / Sam Wundke

In 2015, a swarm of bees found a rooftop bar in Waymouth St and decided to stay there for a while.

media_camera Bees swarm on a rooftop bar in Waymouth St in 2015. Picture: Michael Marschall

media_camera Bees being removed from a rooftop bar on Waymouth St in 2015. Picture: Sam Wundke



