Honey Bee Swarms

Honey bee swarms are a natural part of a colony's reproductive process. A swarm can occur when colony population becomes overcrowded,  typically the old queen leaves the hive with a large group of mostly young worker bees. This normally happens in the spring or early summer when there is most likely to be abundant resources available.

How Swarming Works:

Preparation:

1. • The colony senses it is becoming overcrowded as the population rapidly increases in  Spring.
     
     

   • Worker bees begin the process of making a new Queen by feeding multiple selected larvae with royal jelly.

Finding a New Home:

1. • Scout bees explore potential nesting sites.

   • A cavity with a volume of about 40 litres  and a small entrance seems to  be  most favoured.
     
     

Departure:

1. • The old queen leaves the hive with about half of the young worker bees.
     
     

   • They cluster in a temporary location (like a tree branch), Once they agree on the best location, the swarm flies to establish a new colony.
     
     

Why Swarms Are Important:

• Natural Reproduction: It’s how honey bee colonies reproduce.
  
  

• Pollination: Swarming bees can still pollinate plants during their search for a new home.
  
  

• Genetic Diversity: New colonies can lead to a more diverse gene pool in the area.