Move over young royals, the old queen bees are creating quite a buzz in Sydney.

Large swarms of bees have been spotted across the city, shutting down school playgrounds and shopping strips, invading gardens and even checking out the ABC headquarters in Ultimo.

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The sudden activity has been triggered by a break in the rain, humid spring weather and an abundance of nectar.

Swarms follow the older queen bees who are pushed from their hives after a younger queen is born and takes over.

Beekeeper Doug Purdie said it was a bit like Game of Thrones, as feral and managed colonies fought it out for the keys to the palace.

His business, The Urban Beehive, has received hundreds of calls for help in the past few weeks.

"I've captured and relocated swarms from lots of strange places, including a Macquarie Street office building, airport hotel and children's playgrounds," he said.

Social media posts have mentioned recent bee swarms in Earlwood and Canterbury in Sydney's inner west, Menai in the Sutherland Shire and Darkes Forest in the Illawarra.

A large bee swarm put off those trying to use a pedestrian crossing on an Earlwood shopping strip, while another swarm was seen around the carpark entrance to the ABC's Ultimo office.

Bees cause havoc at home and school

Seven-year-old Zoe Feder from Five Dock said she had encountered the same swarm twice.

"There was a big nest with thousands of bees on our letterbox. My dad hit it with a stick and they flew away," she said.

They did not go far though, the next day descending on Zoe's primary school across the road.

"Everybody had to go inside and shut the doors and windows."

No one was stung, and Zoe said the bees eventually moved on — but she still loves the insects.

Zoe Feder in her front yard, where she had an encounter with a swarm of bees which later caused havoc at her school across the road. ( Supplied: Zoe Feder )

"They help plants grow and they don't want to sting you really, as if they do, they die because their stingers are connected to their heart."

Besides being fatal for the insects themselves, they are unlikely to sting while swarming as they are vulnerable and homeless, Mr Purdie said.

Poking a clump of bees with a stick is not recommended though, and neither is extermination.

"We grab the queen and put her in a box and usually the bees passively follow her in, so we can relocate the colony," Mr Purdie said.

Several years ago, Mr Purdie and fellow beekeeper Vicky Brown set up The Urban Beehive to help ensure Sydney's bee population continued to thrive.

"We're here to help protect local bee populations against threats and to raise awareness of the plight of all our beneficial insects," he said.

"The honeybees do critically important work in urban Sydney."