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The 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, various diseases or overpopulation act as a provoking factor. Knowing the preventive measures, you can avoid the separation of the bee colony.
What is “roy”
A swarm is a part of a bee family that has decided to leave the hives. Each swarm has a leader who is a queen. Most of the swarm is represented by working individuals. The rest of the bees are called drones. Their main function is to fertilize. A bee swarm is able to move away from the mother colony by more than 20 km.
The flight of bee swarms does not depend on the cardinal directions. The direction is chosen, depending on the weather conditions. The main task of the bees is to find a new home. The situation is assessed by scout bees, which fly out of the hive before the rest of the 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 hole of some animal. Stronger swarms rush to the branches of trees.
How bees swarm
Bee swarming is a process of insect migration caused by natural or artificial causes. This process is aimed at preserving the population of the species. In the process of swarming, the most active individuals, together with the queen, leave the hive and go in search of a new home. Most often, insects choose 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 nest increases and the queen lays eggs. Due to the active work in the hive, there is little space. If the beekeeper does not attend to the expansion of the nest in time, the bees will begin to swarm. Weakened bee colonies swarm in autumn, as they manage to gain strength during the summer.
Despite the fact that the bees leave their home suddenly, this process can be predicted about 7-10 days before the start. During this period, characteristic signs of swarming of the bee colony appear. Experienced beekeepers predict migration along the queen cells formed on the combs. In some cases, there is a need for artificial swarming of bees. For example, with a disease of the uterus or the ruin of a 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 in subsequent swarms will be infertile. 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. A newly formed, separated from the old, swarm of bees in beekeeping is called an otroek.
Reasons for swarming bees
Swarming of bees 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 in time. The following reasons can provoke swarming:
- violation of air exchange in the hive;
- aging of the uterus;
- excessive amount of bee brood;
- overheating of the nest as a result of improper selection of its location;
- lack of nest space.
Working individuals of the bee family are interested in favorable conditions for vigorous activity. Disturbed air exchange and high temperatures can cause bees to leave the inhabited area. To prevent stuffiness in the hive, it is necessary to widely space the entrances and periodically close the bee house from direct exposure to sunlight. The bee swarm, whose photo is located above, will not leave the hive if all favorable conditions are created in it.
A swarm of bees is directly dependent on the state of the uterus. If the egg-laying process stops due to a disease of the uterus or its aging, the bees need a new uterus. By this time, the beekeeper needs to take care of growing a new leader. If this does not happen, then the swarming process begins.
A large number of covers testify to the unfavorable state of affairs in the hive. In this case, the bees cannot rise from the ground. They become too heavy due to infestation with mites. Being a source of infection, ticks weaken the defenses of the family. In the end, some of the 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 immunity of bees.
Why do bees swarm during honey collection?
The period of honey collection 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 engaged in providing themselves with supplies for the winter. But sometimes problems can arise, as a result of which part of the family leaves the house. The main reason for the beginning of swarming during honey collection is the growth of the bee colony. Workers do not have enough space, so they are left idle. The uterus, in turn, cannot be engaged in laying eggs. In this case, the unemployed bees begin to build queen cells. After they are sealed, the large swarm leaves the house with the queen.
How many bees in 1 kg swarm
A swarm of bees, located in the photo below, weighing 1 kg contains more than 6000 working individuals. The average weight of a bee is approximately 0,15 g.
Where do swarms fly
It is almost impossible to predict in which direction the swarm will fly. Most often they find a new dwelling 8 km from the old one. During its journey, the swarm takes breaks while the scout bees fly around the area in search of the most suitable home. Often, beekeepers, noticing signs of impending swarming, set traps. It is their swarm that chooses as a new hive. To increase the chances, you need to form several traps at once.
Which queen remains in the hive after swarming
If we are talking about swarming in the spring, the old queen flies out of the hive. By this time, a young individual becomes viable. If she is sick or the beekeeper purposefully clipped her wings, swarming is carried out under the leadership of the young queen. Accordingly, the old queen remains in the hive.
What month do bees swarm
If the bee family is strong enough, then swarming occurs in May or early June. Weakened bees begin laying queen cells later than necessary. Therefore, they swarm in autumn. The main antecedent factor is to stop the laying of eggs by the uterus. The bees become less active and less likely to leave the hive to collect nectar. The construction of honeycombs also stops. Worker bees spend most of their time on the arrival board.
When the bees release their last swarms
The process of swarming occurs in stages. First, the hive leaves the swarm-pervak. This takes place in the first half of the day, from 10 am to 14 pm. The swarm is grafted onto nearby trees while the scout bees are looking 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 advent 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 where they are located.
Working with swarms of bees
The actions of the beekeeper during the swarming of bees depend on how strong the family is and in what period the migration takes place. If the swarm left its hive a few days before the start of the honey collection, then the bees have a large supply of working energy. The swarming process should be prepared long before it starts. It is necessary to prepare new hives and frames with dry land.
At first, the swarm takes root not far from its former location. Knowing where the stop occurred, the beekeeper can remove the swarm. This will require a ladder, a swarm and an impromptu 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 that, a swarm with a part of the bees is hung next to the place of grafting.
- 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 bee swarm
Sometimes there are interruptions in the work of the bee family. Most often, the reasons for deviations include the absence of a uterus or insufficient family strength. In these cases, beekeepers instigate swarming, thereby taking control of the insect population. The most common methods of artificial swarming include:
- division of the bee colony into two parts;
- plaque on the uterus;
- education otvodkov.
The benefits of artificial swarming include:
- increasing the reproduction of bee colonies;
- the ability to plan the swarming process;
- no need to constantly be a beekeeper 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 tell a swarm from a thief bee. The main criterion is the behavior of the individuals that appeared in the hive. If the worker bees calmly fly in and out of the hive, then the thieves react timidly to every rustle. They look for a loophole to get inside the hive. If the bee goes unnoticed, it takes the honey out of the hive and comes back for it again. Along with it, other individuals fly. The sentinel bees immediately try to paralyze the caught thief by sticking a sting into her.
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 the attack of thieves on the bee colony, you should be extra careful. It is undesirable 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 in 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 the swarm in a weak colony. To do this, you should wait for the manifestation of signs of queenlessness in the hive. Only after that, the swarm is poured onto the honeycomb or in front of the entrance. This avoids conflict between bees. Before the migration of insects, it is advisable to sprinkle with sugar syrup.
The first novice bees exude a characteristic odor. He will bring the rest of the family with him. The full process of resettlement as a whole takes no more than 30 minutes. When all the bees enter the hive, you can start leveling the nest in width. After about a week, you can increase the productivity of the family by adding a few brood frames. If the queen in the swarm is too old, she is replaced with a younger and more active one.
How can you save the late swarm
With the right approach, the beekeeper can save the late swarm. If the necessary conditions are provided, the bees will successfully overwinter and will be ready for further work in the spring. The best option would be to combine the swarm with another family. You can also put insects in a winter hut equipped with a thermostat. It is equally important to ensure good air exchange in the hive and to feed the family.
Can bees swarm in August
The swarming of bees 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 autumn than at the end of summer. In this case, you can notice increased activity in the hive. The uterus begins to fly and stops laying eggs. A frequent cause of swarming in August is the weakened state of the family.
What to do with August swarms
Normally, in August, the harvest is carried out after the end of the honey collection. During this period, special attention must be paid to the swarm. Bees in July and August swarm as a result of any disturbances in the internal functioning of the hive. Therefore, it is important to grow as many young queens as possible so that the bee colony is productive by spring.
Initially, the bees are fed. After that, preventive treatment of the dwelling from 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 the attack of rodents.
The state of the bee family is judged by the brood in the nest. It is important to keep as many viable individuals as possible for the winter. The intensity of their work in the spring depends on this. In the middle of the bee dwelling, combs with brood are necessarily placed. Honeycombs are placed along the edges, and honeycombs a little further. The hive is carefully insulated, after which they put a protective agent against rodents on the notch. The winter hut is thoroughly cleaned and rid of high humidity. It is equally important to deal with the disinfection of the future place for wintering.
Top dressing for bees is prepared from sugar syrup, mixed in equal proportions with water. In rare cases, water is replaced with milk. To increase the protective forces of the bee family, the hive is sprayed with a decoction of wormwood, coniferous trees 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 thief bees increases. It is advisable to check the hive late in the evening, after 21:00. It is also recommended to observe the following rules:
- it is impossible to feed before the due date;
- you need to make sure that there are no sweet traces near the hive;
- do not dry combs in the reach of wild insects;
- the hive must be monitored regularly.
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 action will help prevent the negative consequences of swarming.
