The springtime is the time when honeybees reproduce. The natural means of reproduction for honey bees is known as swarming. The springtime swarming period typically last about three weeks. Typically a single swarm of honey bees divide and becomes two during the swarming period.

Beekeeping For Beginners

Because swarming typically means a loss of production so beekeepers try to discourage the behavior. One way that beekeepers eliminate swarming in their hives is by purchasing new bees each spring to replace their previous bees that they turned out to be of the hives the previous fall. Another method commonly used by beekeepers to discourage swarming is the manufacture of a starter colony. Creating a starter hive and then splitting it encourages bees to stay in their hives. Some beekeepers feel that bees only swarm when they have lots of food in the hive. Beekeepers who subscribe to this theory use a way called checker boarding to discourage their bees from swarming. When a beekeeper checkerboards their hives they remove a few of the full frames of honey, giving the bees the illusion that they do not have any honey in reserve, and as a consequence discouraging the bees from swarming.



It is different for a bees to swarm when there is a new queen in the bee hive. As time passes and the Queen ages is when the hive typically prepares to swarm, generally the elderly queen leaves with the main swarm, leaving a virgin queen in her place. When the aged queen is preparing to swarm with the primary swarm she stops laying eggs. She concentrates on getting fit enough to fly when she leaves the hive (the only other time the queen has flown is when she got together on her nuptial flight). When smaller swarms leave the hive they're commonly accompanied by the virgin queen.



When they first leave the hive in a swarm, bees don't typically go far from the hive they have always known. After fleeing the nest the bees decide on a nearby tree branch or under an eave. The worker bees cluster around the queen, protecting her. Once they have the queen protected, some bees, scouts, look around until they find a fitting hive to turn into their new home.



Some beekeepers see swarming as a way to restock their hives. A seasoned bee keeper has no problem capturing a group of swarming bees. Beekeepers use a device to called a Nasrove Pheromone to lure swarming honey bees.



When they swarm, honey bees carry no additional food with them. The only honey they are allowed to take from the parent hive is the honey they consumed.



Although honey bees generally swarm only during the spring the same is not true of Africanized Bees, also called Killer Bees. The Africanized Bees swarm whenever they have a difficult time finding food.

Beekeeping For Beginners

Although they typically don't trail men and women when they're swarming, their is something about the site of a swarm of bees that scares people. It is not unusual for a beekeeper to be called out to capture a colony of swarming bees.


Beekeeping For Beginners