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'Bee invasion' stops play at Indian Wells tennis tournament

Play on a court at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California was halted, and video showed the insects swarming over a piece of equipment. Play later resumed.
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A "bee invasion" halted play on a court at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament in California on Thursday, and video showed the insects swarming over a camera lens and buzzing around players.

"Play has been suspended due to bee invasion," the tournament tweeted, including an emoji of a bee.

Video from the Tennis Channel showed bees swarming over a piece of equipment.

Carlos Alcaraz, who was early into a match with Alexander Zverev, was seen in the video swatting away the bees and then backing up and looking around in confusion.

bee infestation bees
An invasion of bees suspends play between Carlos Alcaraz of Spain and Alexander Zverev of Germany during the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden, in Indian Wells, Calif., on March 14, 2024.Matthew Stockman / Getty Images

The announcer said there was "a problem with bees here," and the crowd was heard laughing, before the pause in play was announced.

"Advantage, bees," the channel said on X.

The BNP Paribas Open, which runs from March 3 to Sunday, is in the quarterfinals stage. It's being played at Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

Indian Wells is a city of around 5,000 in the Coachella Valley southwest of Joshua Tree National Park.

The tournament also shared video of a man using a vacuum hose to suck up the bees.

Play later resumed.