Thousands of bees create a buzz on Capitol Hill. Here's why

Saturday, June 20, 2015, 6:16 PM - About 15,000 honey bees swarmed the main Senate entrance of the U.S. Capitol Building on Friday afternoon before landing in a tree.

After Capitol Police cordoned off the area with yellow tape, three volunteer beekeepers were called to the rescue, including one who is a top congressional aide.

The beekeepers managed to locate and capture the queen in a cardboard box and soon after thousands of her offspring followed inside.

The bees had left their hive in search of a larger home, according to volunteer Rachel Perry of Capitol Bee Care, an organization that works to protect honey bee colonies.

There was little risk the bees would sting anyone because they fill themselves up with honey before leaving the nest and are unable to sting once full, Perry explained to reporters.

Cynthia Martin, honey bee hobbyist and chief of staff to Michigan Democrat Rep. John Coyners, was present during the bee madness. It was the first time she was able to help capture a swarm, CNN reports.

She thanked the beekeepers, loaded the box of bees into her car and planned to introduce them to a nest in her backyard.

"The only thing that is scary is when you're driving and a bee gets loose," Martin said.

Conyers has pushed legislation due to Martin's interest in honey bees that would require the Environmental Protection Agency to study whether or not certain approved insecticides are harming bee colonies.

Source: CNN