Content
Swarming of bees is a natural process of migration from the hive, which threatens the beekeeper with significant losses. A swarm of bees leaves the nest for a number of reasons. Most often, the provoking factor is various diseases or overpopulation. Knowing the preventive measures, you can avoid the separation of the bee colony.
What is a "swarm"
A swarm is a part of a bee family that has decided to leave the hive. Each swarm has a leader, who is the queen. Most of the swarm is represented by working individuals. The remaining bees are called drones. Their main function is fertilization. A swarm of bees can move more than 20 km away from the mother family.
The flight of bee swarms does not depend on the cardinal directions. The direction is chosen depending on weather conditions. The main task of bees is to find new housing.The situation is assessed by scout bees, which fly out of the hive before other individuals. The height of the grafting site directly depends on the state of the family. Weakened bees may stop close to the ground or near the burrow of an animal. Stronger swarms rush towards tree branches.
How bees swarm
Bee swarming is a process of insect migration caused by natural or artificial reasons. This process is aimed at preserving the population of the species. During the swarming process, the most active individuals, together with the queen, leave the hive and go in search of a new home. Most often, insects prefer bird cherry, plum, viburnum, coniferous trees or maple.
Swarming, aimed at reproductive growth, is carried out in late spring - early summer. During this period, the number of drones in the bee's nest increases and the queen lays eggs. Due to active work, there is little space in the hive. If the beekeeper does not take care of expanding the nest in time, the bees will begin to swarm. Weakened bee colonies swarm in the fall, as they manage to gain strength over the summer.
Despite the fact that bees leave their home suddenly, this process can be predicted approximately 7-10 days in advance. During this period, characteristic signs of swarming of a bee colony appear. Experienced beekeepers predict migration based on the queen cells formed on the honeycombs. In some cases, it becomes necessary to artificially swarm bees. For example, in case of a disease of the uterus or destruction of the nest during the wintering period.
Most often, only one swarm emerges from the hive. But there are times when several come out at once. But in such situations, the queen will be infertile in subsequent swarms.The beekeeper should catch this swarm and combine it with the existing one. This will help increase the chances of a successful bee colony in the future. In beekeeping, a newly formed swarm of bees, separated from the old one, is called a swarm.
Causes of bees swarming
Bee swarming occurs under the influence of internal or external provoking factors. The most common cause is overpopulation of the hive. This problem is easy to prevent if detected early. The following reasons can also provoke swarming:
- disruption of air exchange in the hive;
- aging of the uterus;
- excessive amount of bee brood;
- overheating of the nest as a result of incorrect selection of its location;
- lack of space in the nest.
Working individuals of the bee family are interested in favorable conditions for active activity. Disturbed air exchange and high temperatures can provoke bees to leave the inhabited area. To prevent stuffiness in the hive, it is necessary to space the entrances widely and periodically close the bee house from direct exposure to sunlight. The swarm of bees, the photo of which is located above, will not leave the hive if all favorable conditions are created in it.
The swarm of bees is directly dependent on the condition of the queen. If the egg-laying process stops due to illness of the queen or her aging, the bees need a new queen. By this time, the beekeeper needs to take care of raising a new leader. If this does not happen, then the swarming process begins.
A large number of covers indicate the unfavorable state of affairs in the hive. In this case, the bees cannot rise from the ground. They become too heavy due to mite infestation.As a source of infection, ticks weaken the family's defenses. Eventually, some bees leave the hive in search of a new home. If measures are taken in time, migration can be avoided. But in this case, you will need to make efforts to restore the bees’ immunity.
Why do bees swarm during honey collection?
The honey harvest period is accompanied by a daily increase in the weight of the hive by 3 kg. On average, this takes about 10 days. The family is busy providing themselves with supplies for the winter. But sometimes problems may arise as a result of which part of the family leaves the house. The main reason for the start of swarming during honey collection is the expansion of the bee colony. Working individuals do not have enough space, so they remain idle. The uterus, in turn, cannot lay eggs. In this case, the bees left without work begin to build queen cells. Once they are sealed, a large swarm leaves the house with the queen.
How many bees in 1 kg swarm
The swarm of bees located in the photo below, weighing 1 kg, contains more than 6,000 working individuals. The average weight of a bee is approximately 0.15 g.
Where do the swarms fly?
It is almost impossible to predict in which direction the swarm will fly. Most often they find a new home 8 km from the old one. During their journey, the swarm takes breaks while scout bees fly around the area in search of the most suitable home. Often, beekeepers, noticing signs of impending swarming, set traps. It is them that the swarm chooses as a new hive. To increase your chances, you need to create several traps at once.
Which queen remains in the hive after swarming?
When it comes to swarming in the spring, the old queen flies out of the hive. By this time, the young individual becomes viable. If she is sick or the beekeeper has deliberately clipped her wings, swarming is carried out under the leadership of the young queen. Accordingly, the old queen remains in the hive.
In what month do bees swarm?
If the bee family is strong enough, then swarming occurs in May or early June. Weakened bees begin to lay queen cells later than necessary. That's why they swarm in the fall. The main antecedent factor is that the queen stops laying eggs. Bees become less active, they fly out of the hive less and less often to collect nectar. Construction of honeycombs is also being stopped. Worker bees spend most of their time on the fly board.
When the bees release their last swarms
The swarming process occurs in stages. First, the first swarm leaves the hive. This happens in the first half of the day, from 10 to 14 hours. The swarm takes root in trees nearby while the scout bees are searching for a new home. The second swarm leaves the hive after 4-5 days.
When the bees stop swarming
Normally, the swarming process ends with the arrival of cold weather. The maximum possible swarming period is from September to October. The annual cycle of a bee colony largely depends on the climatic conditions of the area in which they are located.
Dealing with swarms of bees
The actions of the beekeeper during swarming of bees depend on how strong the family is and during what period the migration takes place. If the swarm left its hive a few days before the start of the honey harvest, it means that the bees have a large supply of working energy.The swarming process should be prepared long before it begins. It is necessary to prepare new hives and frames with dry food.
At first, the swarm is inoculated not far from its former location. Knowing where the stop occurred, the beekeeper can remove the swarm. To do this you will need a ladder, a ladder and an improvised net:
- Removal is carried out after the swarm has completely calmed down.
- The swarm is placed under the hive and the bees are shaken off with the help of pushes.
- After this, the swarm with part of the bees is suspended next to the grafting site.
- New individuals will fly into it.
The process of adaptation of bees to a new place is carried out gradually.
How to make an artificial swarm of bees
Sometimes there are interruptions in the work of the bee family. Most often, the causes of deviations include the absence of a uterus or insufficient family strength. In these cases, beekeepers induce swarming, thereby bringing the insect population under control. The most common methods of artificial swarming include:
- division of a bee colony into two parts;
- plaque on the uterus;
- formation of layering.
The advantages of artificial swarming include:
- increasing the reproductive rate of bee colonies;
- the ability to plan the swarming process;
- no need for the beekeeper to be constantly in the apiary;
- control over the productivity of each individual family.
How to determine where the swarm is and where the thieving bees are
Experienced beekeepers should be able to distinguish between swarms and thieving bees. The main criterion is the behavior of the individuals that appear in the hive. While worker bees calmly fly in and out of the hive, thieves fearfully react to every rustle. They look for a loophole to get inside the hive. If the bee remains unnoticed, she takes honey out of the hive and returns for it again.Other individuals fly in with her. The sentinel bees immediately try to paralyze the caught thief by stabbing her with a sting.
Stopping nectar theft is not easy. The best way is to change the location of the hive. But the easiest way is to prevent theft. To avoid thieves attacking a bee colony, extreme caution should be exercised. It is not advisable to leave the entrances in the hive open for a long time. It is also important to monitor the health of the uterus. Most often, weakened families are attacked.
How to plant a swarm on a weak family
A swarm that has left its home is called a stray. After capturing it, you need to determine where it is best to place it. One option is to plant a swarm in a weak family. To do this, you should wait for signs of queenlessness to appear in the hive. Only after this the swarm is poured onto the honeycombs or in front of the entrance. This avoids conflict between bees. Before migrating insects, it is advisable to sprinkle with sugar syrup.
The first new bees emit a characteristic smell. He will attract the rest of the family with him. The full relocation process generally takes no more than 30 minutes. When all the bees have entered the hive, you can start leveling the nest width. After about a week, you can increase the productivity of the colony by adding a few brood frames. If the queen in the swarm is too old, she is replaced by a younger and more active one.
How can a late swarm be preserved?
With the right approach, a beekeeper can preserve a late swarm.If the necessary conditions are provided, the bees will successfully overwinter and be ready for further work in the spring. The best option would be to unite the swarm with another family. You can also place insects in a winter hut equipped with a thermostat. It is equally important to ensure good air exchange in the hive and feed the family.
Can bees swarm in August?
Bee swarming in August is not uncommon. It is provoked by the mistakes of beekeepers, as a result of which diseases develop or overpopulation occurs. Statistics show that bees swarm more often in the fall than in late summer. In this case, you may notice increased activity in the hive. The queen begins to fly and stops laying eggs. A common reason for swarming in August is the weakened state of the family.
What to do with August swarms
Normally, the harvest is carried out in August after the end of the honey harvest. During this period, it is necessary to pay special attention to the swarm. Bees swarm in July and August as a result of some disturbance in the internal functioning of the hive. Therefore, it is important to raise as many young queens as possible so that the bee colony is productive by spring.
Initially, the bees are fed. After this, preventive treatment of the home against ticks is carried out. It is also important to determine the amount of food reserves and assess the strength of the bee colony. Damaged and half-empty frames are removed from the hive. This avoids the formation of mold and rodent attacks.
The condition of the bee colony is judged by the brood in the nest. It is important to preserve as many viable individuals as possible for the winter. The intensity of their work in the spring depends on this. Honeycombs with brood must be placed in the middle of the bee's home.Honeycombs are placed along the edges, and honeycombs are placed a little further. The hive is carefully insulated, after which a protective agent against rodents is placed on the entrance. The winter hut is thoroughly cleaned and high humidity is removed. It is equally important to disinfect the future wintering area.
Bee food is prepared from sugar syrup mixed with water in equal proportions. In rare cases, water is replaced with milk. To increase the protective forces of the bee family, the hive is sprinkled with a decoction of wormwood, conifers or yarrow.
With the onset of cold weather, it is necessary to regularly monitor the condition of the bees. During this period, the risk of attack by thieving bees increases. It is advisable to check the hive late in the evening, after 21:00. If you suspect the presence of alien individuals, it is necessary to block access to the entrances. It is also recommended to follow the following rules:
- You can’t fertilize before the due date;
- you need to make sure that there are no sweet traces near the hive;
- Do not dry honeycombs within reach of wild insects;
- It is necessary to regularly monitor the hive.
Conclusion
A swarm of bees leaves its home only if there are unfavorable conditions for further reproduction. The main task of the beekeeper is to provide quality care and protection from insects and bad weather conditions. Correct and timely actions will help prevent the negative consequences of swarming.
