Truck crash releases more than eight million bees onto busy highway

A truck reportedly carrying between 8 million and 11 million bees has overturned in the United States.

Beehives will be installed at Parliament House in Canberra, providing honey for MPs and visitors. (AAP)

Drivers along a US highway have been told to be on the lookout for an unusual traffic hazard after a semi-trailer truck loaded with honey bees overturned.

The Missouri Department of Transportation said the accident occurred on Friday on Interstate 435. No serious injuries were reported.

The Transportation Department initially said the truck was carrying about 40,000 bees but the Kansas City Star reports bee experts said between 8 million and 11 million bees were in the truck.

Some of the bees flew away from the accident scene.

Matt Winstead, of Midwest Bee Removal, says hives typically contain about 40,000 bees. The owner of the hives, Brian Buoye said about 408 hives were being transported.