In one of the most surprising and heartwarming moments in nature, a swarm of around 20,000 bees once followed a car for more than 24 hours—all because their queen was trapped inside.
This unbelievable event, which recently went viral again after being shared on X originally happened in Haverfordwest, Wales, back in 2016.
How 20,000 Bees Chased A Car for Their Queen
The story began when 68-year-old grandmother Carol Howarth parked her Mitsubishi Outlander in town after a trip to a nearby nature reserve.
But what she didn’t know was that a queen bee had likely gotten inside her car, possibly attracted by a scent or a small opening. Since the queen is the heart of a bee colony, her presence is vital—she produces special chemicals (pheromones) that help control the behavior of the entire hive.
When Carol returned to her car, she found it covered with thousands of buzzing bees. They weren’t aggressive, they were trying to stay close to their queen.
The strange sight quickly drew a crowd, and local beekeepers were called in to carefully remove and relocate the bees.
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But the drama didn’t stop there. The next day, the bees came back, still chasing the car. The queen was still inside, and the swarm’s incredible ability to follow her scent led them back again.
This persistence highlights just how strong and effective bee communication is.
Eventually, the beekeepers were able to rescue the queen, although it’s not clear what happened to her afterward.
Along the way, some people got stung—one person even tried to brush the bees off the car and was stung several times.
One of the beekeepers jokingly called the situation a “bee-rilliant swarm” on social media.
Experts say this kind of swarming is normal when a hive becomes too crowded. It’s a sign of a healthy colony getting ready to grow, but it can also cause problems, especially in public places.
According to studies from the University of Sydney and Flow Hive US, bees are extremely loyal and will go to great lengths to protect their queen.
This amazing story shows just how smart and loyal bees can be.
It also reminds us of the fascinating and sometimes surprising ways nature works, even something as small as a bee can act with incredible determination when it comes to protecting its colony.